Written question asked by Jeremy Corbyn (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 December 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 January 2011. It was answered by Lord Bellingham (Conservative) on Monday, 10 January 2011 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

British Indian Ocean Territory

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Mauritius on their claim to the Chagos archipelago.

Answer: The UK values its bilateral relationship with Mauritius and remains keen to engage with Mauritius on a wide range of issues. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I met Prime Minister Ramgoolam on 3 June 2010 and I met Foreign Minister Boolell on 22 July 2010.The offer of a third round of bilateral talks on the British Indian Ocean Territory has been on the table since July 2009 but has not, so far, been taken up by the Mauritian Government.The UK has no doubt about its sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory which was ceded to Britain in 1814 and has been a British dependency ever since.

Secondary information