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Written question asked by Baroness Whitaker (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 November 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 8 December 2020. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Monday, 30 November 2020 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 18 November (HL10143), what assessment they have made of the extent to which their Chagossian support package, announced on 16 November 2016 (HCWS260), (1) addresses the aspiration of those Chagossians who wish to return or resettle in the Chagos Islands, and (2) takes into account the Advisory Opinion Legal Consequences of the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965 issued by the International Court of Justice on 25 February 2019, which found that resettlement "is an issue relating to the protection of the human rights of those concerned which should be addressed by the General Assembly during the completion of the decolonization of Mauritius".

Answer

The decision not to support resettlement followed an independent feasibility study of the practicalities of resettlement (published in February 2015) and a public consultation (results published in January 2016). The consultation found that there were differing indications of the likely demand from Chagossians for resettlement across the communities in the UK, Mauritius, the Seychelles and elsewhere.

The UK Government is determined to use the Support Package to address the aspirations of those Chagossians who wish to return or resettle, and all the community: the desire for better lives, and to maintain a connection to the Territory. For those that wish to return, the Support Package has funded to date eight heritage visits, with a total of 154 visiting the Territory. Unfortunately due to the pandemic we have had to suspend the Heritage Visit programme, but will resume it as soon as it is safe to do so. Beyond the programme of visits, the package focuses on improved access to health and social care, better education and employment opportunities, and cultural conservation. The detail of the package is kept under constant review and we remain committed to engaging with Chagossians to explore ways to better deliver its objectives.

The Support Package was announced in 2016 and is not affected by the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion of 25 February 2019.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL10686
Session
2019-21
Related items
Update on the British Indian Ocean Territory
Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Written statements
House of Commons
Subjects
British Indian Ocean Territory Human rights Mauritius Sovereignty Resettlement
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk