Priti Patel MP: written questions
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Written questions
Chagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57627More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential risk of claims from third countries in relation to the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Answer: Mauritius's legal claim of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is supported by a number of international institutions, including the UN General Assembly. If a long-term deal was not reached between the UK and Mauritius, it is highly likely that furthe...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57626More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what (a) discussions and (b) correspondence he has had with his counterpart in the Maldives on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Answer: The issue of British Indian Ocean Territory sovereignty featured in the Foreign Secretary's meeting with the Maldives Foreign Minister at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting on 25 October 2024 and in the Minister for the Indo-Pacific meeting with...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57197More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Article 11 and Letter No.1 of the Exchange of letters concerning implementation and interpretation of Article 11 of the Agreement between the Government of
Answer: As stated in the explanatory memorandum laid alongside the treaty, the UK government uses the Office for Budgetary Responsibility forecast GDP Deflator in its calculation of future expected payment values. The average annual payments across the length of ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57196More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Oral Statement of 7 October 2024 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Negotiations, Official Report, column 46, and Article 2(1) of the of the document en
Answer: The Treaty explicitly grants all rights and authorities that the United Kingdom requires for the long-term, secure and effective operation of the Base. The rights referred to in the Foreign Secretary's statement of 7 October 2024 are the same rights that ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56768More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 50839 on Gaza: Humanitarian Aid, how much UK-funded aid has been provided to Gaza since 5 July 2024 (a) listed by (i) aid ca
Answer: The UK is doing all we can to alleviate suffering. All allocations of our Humanitarian Programme are available publicly on Development Tracker (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-1-400022/transactions) which includes funding provided to third...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagossians: ResettlementForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56767More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Article 6 of of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), whether he
Answer: Under the agreement, Mauritius will be able to resettle the islands, other than Diego Garcia. It will be for Mauritius to set the terms of and manage any future resettlement. Separate to the agreement, we will work with Mauritius to start a new programme ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56766More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Annex 2 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), whether official
Answer: There are no provisions within the treaty for Mauritian officials to be based on Diego Garcia, however Mauritians can work on Diego Garcia, subject to appropriate security protocols.
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56765More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Annex 2 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what costs will
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 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Indian Ocean Territory: Marine Protected AreasForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56764More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) charities and (b) research institutions on the marine protected area of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Answer: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials have met with organisations such as the Zoological Society of London and the Chagos Conservation Trust in regard to the BIOT/Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area.
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagossian Trust FundForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56763More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the provisions of Article 11(1)(b) and paragraph 2 of Letter No. 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago includ
Answer: As outlined in the Explanatory Memorandum, the UK will capitalise a Trust Fund established by Mauritius for the benefit of Chagossians. The Mauritian government will oversee the fund, but the UK will work with them to develop its details during implementa...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56762More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether commitments made in the UK-Mauritius Agreement will be funded from Overseas Development Assistance budgets.
Answer: None of the elements of the economic partnership provided for by the UK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia, will be funded from Official Development Assistance budgets.
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56761More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will list the changes made to the Treaty with Mauritius over the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory between 3 October 2024 and 22 May 2025.
Answer: The Government has always been clear that it would not provide a running commentary on negotiations. However, it is worth noting that the deal signed on 22 May is stronger than earlier versions of the treaty, particularly that inherited by the previous go...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Airspace and Territorial WatersMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56760More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), whether there are (a) restrictions on and (b) processes to facili
Answer: Under the terms of the Chagos Archipelago Treaty, the UK controls access of persons and goods to Diego Garcia, which includes the airspace and territorial sea in the 12 nautical mile surrounding zone. In accordance with this control the UK must authorise ...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56194More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 3(f) of Letter No.1 of the Exchange of letters concerning implementation and interpretation of Article 11 of the Agreement between the Government
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 recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56193More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraphs 1(b)(viii), 2 and 3(a) of Annex 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS M
Answer: There is no notification requirement for UK or US access, basing or over-flights around the base. Agreement to inform a host nation about military action from their territory is standard practice in basing arrangements. Any notification will take place af...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMauritius: Climate ChangeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54747More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Joint Communique: UK-Mauritius Strategic Partnership Framework, published on 22 May 2025, from which budget the £12m Access to Climate Finance programme
Answer: The UK established a Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance in 2021, and is currently working with six partner countries to mobilise finance, strengthen climate policy, drive capacity building and manage inclusive platforms to coordinate climate finance a...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54746More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 3(b) of Letter No.1 of the Exchange of letters concerning implementation and interpretation of Article 11 of the Agreement between the Government
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 recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54745More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to section 21 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the period for Parliament
Answer: I refer the Rt. Honourable Member to my answer to question 47650.
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54744More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he will bring forward legislative proposals to implement the UK-Mauritius Treaty; and what legislation will be (a) amended and (b) revoked.
Answer: Section 5 of the Explanatory Memorandum sets out the process for the Treaty to be implemented.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagossians: FinanceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54743More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Written Statement of 16 November 2016 on British Indian Ocean Territory, columns 11WS-12WS, what his policy is on the £40 million fund for Chagossians.
Answer: Of the £40 million ten-year commitment made by the 2016 Conservative Government, only £1.6 million was spent by the time this government came into power in July 2024. This government will take a new approach to ensure projects are fully informed by the ne...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54742More
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), whether the Pelindaba Treat
Answer: The UK is not a Party to the Pelindaba Treaty, although it is a Party to Protocols I and II to that Treaty. Both the UK and Mauritius have ensured that all their respective international treaty obligations are compatible with the Agreement.
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54741More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraphs 7 to 9 of Annex 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/20
Answer: The Treaty ensures that the UK can monitor and notify Mauritius of activities which risk conflict with obligations in Article 3 (2)(b). As the Treaty notes, the UK can provide written reasons as to why this activity may be against treaty obligations, and ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54740More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, 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)
Answer: There are a range of vital facilities and capabilities on the base on Diego Garcia and the surrounding area that keep the UK and our allies safe. Many of these are too sensitive to be discussed publicly.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Indian Ocean Territory: Marine Protected AreasForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54739More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the provisions in Article 5(2) of the UK-Mauritius Treaty (CP 1334), what steps he is taking to protect the status of the current marine protected area; whe
Answer: UK support to Mauritius to establish and manage the Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area will be agreed by the Parties by a separate written instrument as part of the implementation of the Agreement. Under the agreement, the UK shall be responsible fo...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Indian Ocean Territory: Territorial WatersForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54738More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Article 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), if he will set
Answer: The UK will have the right to manage the area up to 12 nautical miles around Diego Garcia for defence purposes. Between 12 and 24 nautical miles, no construction, installations, structures or sensors can be installed without the UK's agreement. Fishing an...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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