Written question asked by Alan Brown (Scottish National Party) on Monday, 11 March 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 13 March 2019. It was answered by Alan Duncan (Conservative) on Tuesday, 19 March 2019 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

British Indian Ocean Territory: Mauritius

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to have discussions with his counterpart in Mauritius before a decision is made on scientific work in the (a) Chagos Islands and (c) exclusive economic zone declared by Mauritius around those islands.

Answer: The UK consistently reiterates its willingness to discuss scientific work in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) with Mauritius. The BIOT Marine Protected Area (MPA) is highly valued by scientists from many countries who consider it a global reference site for marine conservation in an ocean which is heavily overfished. Ministers are committed to further consultation with Mauritius about the establishment of the MPA in order to have due regard to its rights and interests, as directed by the Arbitral Tribunal of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Implementation of the Tribunal’s Award started with a series of bilateral talks, the latest of which took place in August 2016.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 230784
Session: 2017-19
Subjects: British Indian Ocean Territory Exclusive economic zone Mauritius Science
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk