House of Commons · Urgent Question
16 December 2025 · 13 other contributors
Opened by Priti Patel Con Witham
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Priti Patel raised concerns about chagossians trust fund and resettlement 2025-12-16 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Will the Minister confirm the rights of British Chagossians to access the trust fund and resettle on the Chagos archipelago, given that the treaty signed on 22 May secures a £40 million trust fund for their benefit but leaves control over resettlement decisions in Mauritius?
Question
Will UK-based Chagossian community members need to become Mauritian citizens to have any hope of being entitled or eligible for resettlement under the future resettlement programme? Will the Minister confirm if Britain has no proper representation on the board and no control over how funds are spent?
Minister reply
The treaty enables Mauritius to develop a programme of resettlement on islands other than Diego Garcia. This agreement is the only viable path to resettlement on the archipelago. Any UK-based Chagossian who does not hold Mauritian citizenship and who meets the criteria will be eligible for it and therefore able to participate in any future programme of resettlement. All Chagossians will remain eligible for British citizenship under the current citizenship pathway, and they will be able to hold both British and Mauritian citizenship.
Question
How can adequate support be provided in the UK for Chagossians given their significant historical rights and movement of people?
Minister reply
I will ensure that my hon. Friend gets a meeting with the relevant Minister to discuss the adequacy of the support available in the UK.
Question
Has there been any negotiation for Chagossians to exercise their right of return without being required to subscribe to Mauritian citizenship? Were there discussions about a Hong Kong-style arrangement?
Minister reply
Further discussions between the UK and Mauritius will take place in the new year.
Question
Does the Minister recognise that it would lighten the whole atmosphere if there was an absolute right of return for all Chagossians, with them not having to take Mauritian citizenship and being fully in control of their own trust fund?
Minister reply
The treaty is designed to ensure a viable path to resettlement on the archipelago and discussions are ongoing between UK and Mauritius.
Question
Is Mauritius considered a free society by the Government, and what is their assessment of its relationship with communist China?
Minister reply
Mauritius is an important partner for us. The issue has been discussed at length, but I will leave it to the relevant Minister to provide a fuller commentary on its relations with China.
Question
Does the Government plan to follow the previous Conservative Government's example by suspending negotiations as they were not in the national or Chagossian people’s interests?
Minister reply
We are taking action required to ensure base safety and security, closely with partners including the US. We opened negotiations on sovereignty after Boris Johnson offered money which did not work.
Question
Does the Minister recognise the Chagossian Government in exile?
Minister reply
There are a range of views across the Chagossian community, and I am not familiar with details about the Government in Exile.
Question
What is the Government’s reaction to the UN reports and will they honour the recommendations?
Minister reply
The relevant Minister has plenty of opportunities to answer further questions about the UN report. We are following the process soberly and seriously.
Question
What confidence does the Minister have that funds will be spent appropriately given corruption cases in Mauritius?
Minister reply
The trust fund will have a majority of Chagossians on it and conduct observed by our high commission to ensure appropriate spending.
Question
Will the Minister confirm that the Government Actuary’s Department figure of £34.7 billion for the Chagos deal is correct?
Minister reply
I will consult the Ministry of Defence to clarify where the error is, but my understanding is all costs have been verified by the Government Actuary's Department.
Question
Why is the Minister now so timid when it comes to dealing with international findings criticising the denial of self-determination and right to return?
Minister reply
There are different UN bodies with varying responsibilities, and I welcome agreement between UK and Mauritius. The relevant Minister will study further reports carefully.
Question
How can the Government ensure that the trust fund is not used by other settlers but helps to resettle Chagossians?
Minister reply
In addition to a British Chagossian on the board, our high commissioner will observe operations for greater transparency and insight.
Government Response
On 22 May the Diego Garcia treaty was signed and laid before the House. As the Defence Secretary told the House on the day of signature, the treaty secures the strategically important UK-US military base on the island of Diego Garcia. The base is essential to the security of the UK and our key allies, and to keeping British people safe. Under the terms of the treaty, the UK will capitalise a £40 million trust fund for the benefit of Chagossians, which will be established by Mauritius. On 12 December the Mauritian Government approved the introduction of primary legislation to establish the trust fund. The Mauritian Bill confirms the principle that the trust fund will be operated for Chagossians and by Chagossians. Decisions on the use of funds will be taken by a trust fund management board. The board will comprise 12 members, seven of whom will be Chagossians, ensuring majority representation. The chair of the trust fund will be a Chagossian, selected by the Chagossian members. Following extensive representations and engagement by this Government, the Mauritian Bill also confirms that a UK-based Chagossian representative will sit on the board, alongside representatives living in Mauritius and the Seychelles. The UK high commissioner to Mauritius will also attend board meetings. We welcome these commitments by Mauritius, which will ensure that the trust fund reflects the full spectrum of perspectives within the Chagossian community. The treaty enables Mauritius to develop a programme of resettlement on islands other than Diego Garcia. This agreement is the only viable path to resettlement on the archipelago. The UK Government have been in talks with Mauritius to ensure that the programme is open to all Chagossians, irrespective of their country of residence. The Mauritian Government confirmed on 12 December that eligibility to resettle will apply to Chagossians born on the archipelago before 31 December 1973, and to the children of a parent who was born on the archipelago before that date. As of April 2025, 94% of Chagossians with British nationality also had Mauritian citizenship. However, any UK-based Chagossian who does not hold Mauritian citizenship and who meets the criteria will be eligible for it and therefore able to participate in any future programme of resettlement. All Chagossians will remain eligible for British citizenship under the current citizenship pathway, and they will be able to hold both British and Mauritian citizenship.