HC Deb 15 November 2000 vol 356 cc685-6W
Mr. Fabricant

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the extent of the exclusion zones around and above Diego Garcia; and what purpose the zones serve. [138296]

Mr. Battle

There are no exclusion zones. Diego Garcia has a three mile territorial sea, within which activities are restricted in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and an area of controlled airspace that extends five miles out and 2,500ft upwards from the runway there.

Mr. Fabricant

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requirement there is on the US authorities to notify him of progress with their research undertaken on Diego Garcia. [138297]

Mr. Battle

We would expect the US authorities to seek our approval before conducting any research programmes on Diego Garcia.