Written question asked by Jeremy Corbyn (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 February 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 24 February 1998. It was answered by Tony Lloyd (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 February 1998 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what examination he has made of the application of UN General Assembly Resolution No. 1514 to the former residents of Diego Garcia.

Answer: Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what examination he has made of the application of UN General Assembly Resolution No. 1514 to the former residents of Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement. [30966] Mr. Tony Lloyd: The islands of the British Indian Ocean Territory are British, and have been since 1814 when ceded by France. We do not accept that they were ever an integral part of Mauritius. We do not therefore consider that General Assembly Resolution 1514, which was concerned with the partial or total disruption of the national unity and territorial integrity of a country, has any application to the Territory.

Secondary information