Mark Francois MP: written questions 2025
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Written questions
Chagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54682More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 6(e) of Annex 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025)
Answer: Both sides have negotiated this Agreement in good faith and we are confident that Mauritius intends to uphold it in full, just as we will. Were an issue to arise in relation to the interpretation or application of the Agreement, that would be resolved in ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54681More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 2 of Annex 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), t
Answer: Any notification will take place after the event and will not require the UK to divulge sensitive information. Agreement to inform a host nation is standard practice in many such arrangements, while the UN Charter itself has a requirement to notify the UN...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54680More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what steps he has taken to
Answer: This government and previous governments have repeatedly stated we deeply regret the way Chagossians were removed from the Islands. The UK provided compensation in the 1980s that courts have ruled was paid in full and final settlement. The Agreement will ...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMauritius: Economic SituationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54679More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Article 11 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what oversigh
Answer: Full details of the mechanisms of use for the development framework grant will be agreed between the UK and Mauritius during the implementation period, before the first payment of the grant in year 4 of the Agreement.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Indian Ocean Territory: DrugsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Article 3(3) of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), how his De
Answer: The new UK-Mauritius Strategic Partnership Framework will provide a comprehensive mechanism for delivering for the UK and Mauritius, including on areas such as narco-trafficking. UK and Mauritian Ministers will meet in the coming months to finalise the pa...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Indian Ocean Territory: Marine Protected AreasForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54677More
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), what estima
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 Mauritiu...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54676More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Article 4 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what steps he
Answer: The agreement protects the operations on Diego Garcia to ensure the security of the UK and our allies, which is why it has been welcomed by the US and other 5 Eyes partners.The UK will ensure all operations on Diego Garcia will continue to comply with its...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54675More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), if will list the measures i
Answer: The costs of the Treaty have been published in the Finance Exchange of Letters, laid in Parliament together with the Treaty on 22 May.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54674More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Article 2(3)(g) of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what steps his Department is taking to ensure
Answer: The United Kingdom is not bound by Mauritian environmental law. Under Article 5, the UK will apply applicable international environmental law with due regard to applicable Mauritian environmental laws; this reflects the long-standing Defence policy of app...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54673More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 7 of Annex 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what mechanism his Department will use
Answer: A Joint Commission will oversee the implementation of the treaty and will discuss issues relating to the effective operation of the base on Diego Garcia.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54672More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Article 9(1) of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), how he will exercise (a) prescriptive and (b) adj
Answer: The prescriptive enforcement and adjudicative jurisdiction afforded to the United Kingdom under the agreement enables the UK to write, enforce, and adjudicate laws applicable on Diego Garcia. The detail of His Majesty’s Government's approach will be set o...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54671More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 8(b) of Annex 2 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what steps his Department plans to t
Answer: As per paragraph 10 of Annex 2, the UK and Mauritius will be agreeing separate arrangements and operating procedures as necessary to assist and facilitate the exercise of Mauritian jurisdiction in respect to paragraph 8. There will be no additional facili...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54670More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 3(a) of Annex 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what steps his Department plans to t
Answer: In respect of the Chagos Archipelago beyond Diego Garcia, vessels and aircraft of the United Kingdom and the United States of America shall have unrestricted rights of overflight, navigation and undersea access, as at present.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54669More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 2 of Annex 2 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what discussions he has had with his Un
Answer: With reference to paragraph 2 of Annex 2 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), the jurisdiction of US personnel on Diego Garcia is set out in the UK-US Exchange ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMauritius: SecurityMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54668More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 5 of Annex 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what steps his Department plans to take
Answer: Work on the details to implement the treaty is ongoing across Government, including engagement with Mauritius as appropriate. Defence’s contribution will centre on developing Mauritian capability to provide maritime security through improved maritime doma...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54667More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 10 of Annex 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025),
Answer: High-level consultations can be requested by either party through the mechanism of the Joint Commission or, in the event of any urgent concerns, through their respective High Commissions.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54666More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Article 5(3) of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what steps his Department is planning to take to
Answer: In conjunction with the steps taken elsewhere in Government, the Ministry of Defence will support closer collaboration between the UK and Mauritius in this area by providing training which boosts Mauritian maritime security capabilities and maritime domai...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMauritius: SecurityMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54665More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 3(e) of Annex 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what steps his Department is plannin
Answer: The Treaty clearly states a strict prohibition on foreign security forces operating in the Chagos Archipelago without UK consent. If a security force is operating in the Chagos Archipelago without the joint agreement of the UK and Mauritius, we will coope...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54664More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 2 of Article 10 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), how will his Department provide reas
Answer: Future contracts falling under Article 10 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025) shall be subject to normal scrutiny and award processes. The provision of reasons ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54663More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 1(b)(viii) of Annex 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what notification protocols hi
Answer: Aircraft accessing Diego Garcia will maintain standard notification practices for flight information regions, which exist in the Indian Ocean flight information zone and other international flight information zones.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54662More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 8 of Annex 2 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what steps his Department plans to take
Answer: In conjunction with the steps taken elsewhere in Government, the Ministry of Defence will assess the capability of Mauritius to secure its Exclusive Economic Zone and will provide targeted support, including through training, to strengthen efforts to coun...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54661More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Article 3(2)(c) of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what steps his Department plans to take to mai
Answer: The objective of the treaty and the substantive obligation on both parties is the long-term, secure and effective operation of the base on Diego Garcia. Therefore, the treaty itself is designed to secure and protect the base and every obligation in the tr...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54660More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 1(v) of Annex 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), whether the (a) installation and (b)
Answer: Paragraph 1(b)(v) of Annex 1 of the treaty is clear that the UK has unrestricted ability to authorise the installation, operation and repair of new and existing communication systems and electronic systems and associated cables.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54659More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Article 15 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), if he will set out the arbitration procedures under
Answer: The procedures concerning paragraph 4 of Article 15 are set out in Annex 4.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54658More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 3(b) of Annex 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what procedures his Department plans
Answer: The Joint Commission, as set out in Annex 3(6)a of the treaty, has the remit of serving as a forum for dialogue between the Parties, including the exchange of information regarding the security and protection of, and activities within, the Chagos Archipel...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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