§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which vessels are moored in British waters off Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement. [125568]
§ Mr. RammellI have been asked to reply.
In accordance with our various agreements with the US, a number of US merchant vessels, chartered by the US Government, are at any time moored in Diego Garcia waters. From time-to-time US and other visiting warships also moor there, as do fishing vessels which have been brought in on suspicion of illegal fishing in British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) waters, vessels engaged in scientific research in the waters of the Territory and the BIOT Fisheries Protection Vessel.