§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the USA concerning the possible return to Diego Garcia of the former residents and their descendents on the Chagos Islands. [158969]
§ Mr. BattleThe High Court judgment concerning possible resettlement in the British Indian Ocean Territory, though not specifically in Diego Garcia, has naturally been discussed in our regular talks with the American authorities about the use of the Territory for defence purposes.
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§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have been held with the Government of Mauritius concerning the future sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. [158968]
§ Mr. BattleMy right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear both in a letter to the Mauritian Foreign Minister and during a meeting in January this year, that the UK will continue to maintain sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, but that when they are no longer needed for defence purposes, we will be willing to cede them to Mauritius subject to the requirements of international law.