British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty — [Judith Cummins in the Chair]

The UK's occupation of Chagos islands is deemed illegal by international courts, impacting UK credibility. The SNP supports self-determination and compensation for the Chagossian people.

He expressed concern about the injustice faced by the Chagos islanders for over half a century, highlighting their forced removal from their homeland in the late 1960s and poor treatment in Mauritius. He called for the right of return to be determined by the Chagos islanders themselves and emphasised the strategic importance of the British Indian Ocean Territory. Mr Henry Smith intervened to raise concerns about the potential environmental risks posed by an incident involving a Japanese oil tanker near Mauritius. He called for the Government to ensure the pristine marine environment around the British Indian Ocean Territory is not at risk.

Asked who would vote in a hypothetical referendum involving the Mauritian Chagossians, second generation Chagossians, and third generation Chagossians. Asked whether China's influence on the atolls is about establishing military bases or more about telecoms, including listening in and disrupting global communications. The base on the British Indian Ocean Territory is essential for global security, housing military equipment and troops. Repopulating the islands is impractical due to historical conditions.

Stated that he is one of few MPs who have visited the British Indian Ocean Territory on military duty and emphasized its strategic importance to NATO. He mentioned two submarine Z-berths and a large airbase used in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Jim Shannon congratulated the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham on leading today's debate about the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory. He discussed maintaining a stable relationship with territories abroad, highlighting the importance of defending Britain's overseas territories like the Falklands and Gibraltar. Shannon also mentioned concerns over potential Chinese aggression in the Chagos archipelago and the threat to the naval base at Diego Garcia from China's deepening ties with Mauritius.

The hon. Member questions whether a referendum would be binding, suggesting it is more important to ensure that the interests of the Chagossians are protected through consultation. He congratulated the debate's initiator and described the removal of the Chagossians from their islands as a 'mother of all injustices'. He highlighted the ongoing systemic poverty faced by Chagos communities, stating that more must be done to address this issue. He also discussed the need for the UK to enter negotiations regarding the British Indian Ocean Territory in accordance with international law.

Sought to intervene but no further details provided. The MP congratulated and welcomed the interest shown by another Member but expressed doubt regarding their involvement in previous meetings. He emphasized the importance of involving the Chagossian community in negotiations, highlighting Human Rights Watch's call for full reparations and inclusion of community voices.

Mr Paul Bristow addressed the historical injustice faced by Chagossians, noting Britain's role in forced mass deportation and subsequent abandonment. He highlighted that while steps have been taken to recognise Chagossians as British subjects, more needs to be done regarding future communication and decision-making processes involving the Chagos islands.

He thanked the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Daniel Kawczynski) for securing the debate, paying tribute to colleagues across the House who have advocated for Chagossian communities over many years. He expressed concerns about national security, compliance with international law, diplomatic standing, and the rights of the people of the Chagos islands after decades of hardship. Doughty highlighted the ICJ ruling in 2019 that the UK must end its administration of the archipelago as rapidly as possible and noted the Government's failure to address these issues adequately.