Written question asked by Lord Wallace of Saltaire (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 February 2010.

Mauritius

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last held bilateral discussions with the government of Mauritius on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Answer: While the UK has no doubt about its sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), my right honourable friend the Prime Minister agreed with the Mauritian Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, to establish a dialogue between officials. A meeting between UK and Mauritian officials was held at the FCO on 14 January 2009, and a further one in Port Louis on 21 July. The delegations discussed the latest legal and policy developments relating to 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 the British Indian Ocean Territory for defence purposes. There was mutual discussion of fishing rights, the environment, continental shelf and future visits to the Territory by Chagossians.

Secondary information