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Mauritius

Answer

Officials from the UK and Mauritius met in January and July 2009. The delegations discussed the latest legal and policy developments relating to the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). Both delegations set out their respective positions on sovereignty and the UK also set out how the UK needed to bear in mind its treaty obligations with the US and our ongoing need of BIOT for defence purposes. There was mutual discussion of fishing rights, the environment, continental shelf and future visits to the territory by Chagossians. We welcome the prospect of further bilateral discussions with the Mauritians on BIOT. However, Government policy remains that they have no doubt about the UK's sovereignty over BIOT but that they will cede the territory to Mauritius when it is no longer needed for defence purposes. And, following the judgment in the House of Lords in October 2008 in the Judicial Review of the 2004 BIOT Orders in Council which upheld the validity of the BIOT (Constitution) Order, the Government's policy remains that no one has a right of abode in BIOT and permission is needed for anyone visiting the territory. The Government are not, therefore, seeking to facilitate the resettlement of the Chagossians on BIOT.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

1306; 716 c318WA

Session

2009-10

Related items

Chagos Islands: Sovereignty
Tuesday, 3 March 2026
Written questions
House of Commons

Subjects

British Indian Ocean Territory Environment protection Mauritius Sovereignty Seas and oceans Resettlement Chagossians

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk