§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
What, now the Cold War is over, are their plans for the future of the military facilities on Diego Garcia, how frequently these facilities are visited by British officials, and what ground or other rent they have been receiving from the United States in respect of these facilities; whether there are any conditions attached to the uses the US authorities may make of the facilities, as regards observance of international law and UN Security Council Resolutions; and what is the purpose of the US "equipment afloat ships" currently anchored there (International Herald Tribune, 8 November 1994).
§ Baroness TrumpingtonThe use of military facilities on Diego Garcia is governed by the Exchanges of Notes between Britain and the United States dated 1966, 1972 and 1976. The agreement of 1966 made Diego Garcia available for the defence needs of both countries until at least 2016. Her Majesty's Government receive no ground or any other rent from the US authorities.
146WAWaste, in the sense of poor value for money where criminal fraud is not involved, is also much too high but cannot be reliably estimated. At the European Council in Essen on 9/10 December, the Prime Minister made a number of proposals for action against fraud, waste and mismanagement, which were endorsed by the European Council. He made clear that the fight against fraud will remain high on the Government's agenda.