Written question asked by Mark Francois (Conservative) on Monday, 2 June 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 4 June 2025. It was answered by Stephen Doughty (Labour) on Monday, 9 June 2025 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Mauritius: Marine Protected Areas

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Article 5(2) of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), whether he has made an estimate of the cost to the public purse of the financial contribution to the Government of Mauritius's Marine Protected Area; and if he will set out these will be accounted for in his Department's 2025/26 budget.

Answer: The Blue Belt Programme, which is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, currently supports BIOT to manage the current Marine Protected Area. As the Treaty states, the terms of the management and support provided by the UK to Mauritius to establish and manage the Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area will be agreed between the Parties by a separate written instrument, as part of implementation of the Agreement.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 56703
Session: 2024-26
Related items: Agreement, done at London and Port Louis on 22 May 2025, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia
Thursday, 22 May 2025
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Subjects: British Indian Ocean Territory Finance Mauritius Sovereignty Marine protected areas
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk