HC Deb 24 June 2004 vol 422 c1527W
Jeremy Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what income of the British Indian Ocean Territories is disbursed(a) as administrative costs, (b) to support the security of US facilities on Diego Garcia and (c) to support the welfare of the Chagos Islanders. [180347]

Mr. Rammell

The revenues of the Government of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) are disbursed on the protection and management of the BIOT Fisheries (Conservation and Management) Zone, and the BIOT civil administration. There are no disbursements to support the security of the US Defence Facility or to support the welfare of members of the Chagossian communities in Mauritius, Seychelles and elsewhere.

Jeremy Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the recognised population of the British Indian Ocean Territories is; and what information he holds on where they are domiciled. [180348]

Mr. Rammell

There is currently no settled population in the British Indian Ocean Territory. There are no official figures for the number of persons outside the Territory who could be regarded as Chagossians either by virtue of birth there or immediate descent from a person born there. The majority of them reside in Mauritius but there are smaller numbers in Seychelles and elsewhere, e.g. in the United Kingdom.

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