§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation took place prior to the announcement of the two Orders in Council on 10 June 2004, announced in the written statement of 15 June 2004,Official Report, columns 32—4WS, with (a) Chagossians resident in the United Kingdom and (b) Chagossians resident in Mauritius; and what response he has had from Chagossians following the Orders in Council being made. [184387]
§ Mr. RammellBefore the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 and the British Indian Ocean Territory (Immigration) Order 2004 were submitted to Her Majesty the Queen in Council, I and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave very careful consideration to all relevant interests and concerns. There was no prior consultation with Chagossians resident in the United Kingdom or Mauritius.
A petition by a number of Chagossians in the United Kingdom, raising various points including their wish to resettle in the Chagos islands, was handed in to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 6 July 2004, and a petition by Chagossians resident in Mauritius was handed in to the British High Commission in Port Louis on 13 July 2004.
§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what rights Ilois islanders have to visit Diego Garcia to care for the graves of their ancestors; and what financial support is provided to help their passage from Mauritius for such visits. [184382]
§ Mr. RammellFollowing the restoration of full immigration control over the whole of the British Indian Ocean Territory, the Chagossians would need a permit in order to visit any part of the Territory. We have made clear that we remain prepared, as we always have been, to assist and finance a visit by a party of Chagossians to the outer islands of the Territory to enable them to visit the graves there of their parents and grandparents. We have further made clear that if there is a request that the itinerary of any such visit should also include the graves on Diego Garcia, we are prepared to make representations to the US authorities about that.
§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there is a prison or controlled area for holding detainees on Diego Garcia. [184390]
58W
§ Mr. RammellI refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to the right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Sir Menzies Campbell) on 21 June 2004,Official Report, column 1221W.
§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requirement has been placed upon the United States military as a result of the leasing agreement for Diego Garcia, to ensure the land and aquatic environment of Diego Garcia and other Chagos islands are not damaged by the military activities of the United States; what arrangements are in place to remove military and commercial wastes from the islands; and what consultation he has had with the United States Administration over the adequacy of emergency plans to clean up pollution. [184394]
§ Mr. RammellThere is no leasing agreement in respect of Diego Garcia but, under the relevant treaties concluded with the US Government, the whole of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is set aside for the defence purposes of the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the US Government is entitled to establish and maintain a defence facility on Diego Garcia. The BIOT Government and the US authorities collaborate on all aspects of the conservation and protection of the natural environment of Diego Garcia and, where appropriate, of the outer islands of the Territory. In this context, the US authorities on Diego Garcia have established a Natural Resources Management Plan and they expend considerable resources on environmental conservation. The UK Government attaches considerable importance to the conservation of the natural environment of the Chagos islands and the BIOT Government have ensured that the necessary legislation for this purpose is in place and is enforced, and that relevant international conventions are observed.