§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the reason, for not including the British Indian ocean territory and the Great Chagos Bank Atoll in the areas covered by i.he biodiversity action plan published on 25 January.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIt was decided that given the special circumstances of the British Indian ocean territory—BIOT—it would not be appropriate for the islands to be included in the national plan for biodiversity.
Access to Diego Garcia is restricted because of the defence facility on the island. Nevertheless, legislative and other measures have been implemented to protect the territory's environment. BIOT has a conservation consultant who is developing a comprehensive programme for the territory and has close links with the charity, the Friends of the Chagos, an organisation concerned with the conservation of the Chagos archipelago.