§ Mr. BorrowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans have been made for the Chagossians to visit the Chagos Archipelago. [65241]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Government of the British Indian Ocean Territory is organising and paying for the charter of a ship to take about 100 Chagossians to the outer islands of the Chagos Archipelago to visit ancestral graves. Subject to agreement with the representatives of those concerned, the ship—the M/S Mauritius Trochetia—will depart from Port Louis on 5 October and will visit the islands of Peros Banhos and Salomon. It is expected to return on 17 October. The British high commissions in Mauritius and Seychelles are in contact with the leaders of the various Chagossian groups and are inviting them to draw up a jointly agreed list of passengers.