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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will discuss (a) with the Government of Mauritius and (b) with the Government of the Seychelles the environmental and ecological situation in those atolls of the Chagos Archipelago and Diego Garcia before facilitating the return of Ilois to lands of ancestral graves; [142393] (2) if he will discuss with President Clinton the carrying out of an environmental and ecological assessment of the areas of the Chagos Archipelago and Diego Garcia, which have been uninhabited for 30 years before facilitating the return of Ilois people to lands of their ancestral graves. [142392] Mr. Battle: Environmental and ecological assessments are an integral part of the studies being undertaken into the feasibility of resettlement on the uninhabited islands of the Archipelago. We will take these factors into account most carefully before any decision is taken by the Government over resettlement by the Ilois.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

359 c148W;359 c146W; 142393;142392

Session

2000-01

Subjects

British overseas territories British Indian Ocean Territory International relations Mauritius Diego Garcia Chagossians Seychelles Resettlement

Link

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