Written question asked by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Conservative) on Wednesday, 6 June 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 11 June 2007. It was answered by Geoffrey Hoon (Labour) on Monday, 11 June 2007 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Chagos Islands

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government’s policy is on the return of the Chagossians to the Chagos Islands following the Court of Appeal ruling that the orders in council preventing them from returning were unlawful.

Answer: The Court of Appeal handed down its judgment on the 2004 Orders in Council on 23 May. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will consider it carefully and reserves the right to petition the House of Lords to grant permission to appeal, as she is entitled to do within one month.The Government’s policy in relation to the British Indian Ocean Territory therefore remains the subject of possible ongoing legal proceedings and it would be inappropriate to comment further.

Secondary information