Written question asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 4 July 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 July 2016. It was answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative) on Wednesday, 13 July 2016 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

British Indian Ocean Territory: Mauritius

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how long after the ending of the use of the Chagos Archipelago for defence purposes they expect to return that territory to Mauritius.

Answer: The United Kingdom is committed to cede the territory to Mauritius when it is no longer required for defence purposes.
The military facility located in the British Indian Ocean Territory continues to contribute significantly towards global security, and is central to efforts at countering regional threats, including those from terrorism and piracy. We do not envisage this position changing in the short-term and it is for the UK alone to determine when this position has been reached.

Secondary information