Written questions by Patel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the membership of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization on the decisions that it makes in respect of UK overseas territories.

The Government continues to believe the UN Special Committee on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (Special Committee) is outdated and no longer has a relevant role to play with respect to the UK Overseas Territories.For those Territories with permanent populations who wish it, the Government will continue to support requests for the removal of the Territory from the United Nations list of 'non-self-governing Territories'. Furthermore, the Government supports the right of the people of the Overseas Territories to address the Special Committee directly. In 2025, the UK has supported representatives from the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, and the British Virgin Islands to appear at the Special Committee's annual considerations of their respective Territories.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding from the public purse has been used to support the Marine Protected Area around the British Indian Ocean Territory in each year since 2010.

The British Indian Ocean Territory Administration has responsibility for the management and monitoring of its Marine Protected Area, including the funding to support this.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the statement in the House of Lords of 30 June 2025, made by the Minister for Africa on the resettlement of Chagossians on the Chagos Archipelago and the Chagossian trust fund under the terms of the UK-Mauritius Treaty HL col 534, (a) when he expects to present a statement to Parliament and (b) whether the decision to commit to provide a statement was agreed with the Government of Mauritius.

As the Minister for Africa made clear to the House, ahead of ratification, the Government will make a Ministerial Statement in both Houses providing a factual update on eligibility for resettlement and the modalities of the trust fund. This will enable further discussion in a proper manner.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what funding requests his Department has received from the Government of Mauritius to support the establishment of a marine protected area in accordance with Article 5 of the UK-Mauritius Treaty.

UK support for the establishment of a marine protected area (MPA) around the Chagos Archipelago is being discussed with Mauritius as part of the implementation of the Treaty. The UK will not be making any additional direct payments to Mauritius as part of this activity.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with their counterparts in the Government of Mauritius on (i) the Chagossian Trust Fund and (ii) the programme of visits and settlements on the Chagos Archipelago since 22 May 2025.

These issues are being discussed with Mauritius as part of the implementation of the Treaty. Ahead of ratification, the Government will make a Ministerial Statement in both Houses providing a factual update on eligibility for resettlement and the modalities of the trust fund.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization’s 2025 session statement published in June 2025 (GA/COL/3393) on the sovereignty of Gibraltar.

The UN press release summarising part of the annual discussions of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization (C24) has no implications for UK Government policy towards Gibraltar, including UK sovereignty over Gibraltar. The Government believes the C24 is outdated, and no longer has a relevant role to play with respect to the UK Overseas Territories. The Government does, however, support the right of the people of the Overseas Territories to address the C24 directly. As the press release makes clear, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar welcomed the 11 June UK-EU agreement regarding Gibraltar's future relationship with the European Union and that he envisaged a new and more positive relationship with Spain as a consequence of it. The treaty text will make clear that it in no way affects sovereignty.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the resolution passed on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands taken at the Organization of American States General Assembly on 27 June 2025.

The Government is clear: it is for the people of the Falkland Islands only to decide their future and the Government has no doubt about the Falkland Islanders' right of self-determination. The Minister of State for International Development, Latin America and Caribbean, represented the UK at the Organization of American States General Assembly, reaffirming the UK Government's commitment to the Falkland Islanders and their democratic rights. We will resolutely defend their sovereignty and rights as I and ministerial colleagues have made repeatedly clear.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization’s 2025 session Resolution adopted in June 2025 (GA/COL/3394) on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.

The Government is clear: it is for the people of the Falkland Islands only to decide their future and the Government has no doubt about the Falkland Islanders' right of self-determination. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office supported the Falkland Islanders to address the UN Decolonization Committee in person when it considered the Falkland Islands on 18 June. We will resolutely defend their sovereignty and rights as I and ministerial colleagues have made repeatedly clear.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether papers from the previous Government were disclosed to Ministers in the Administration relating to the UK-Mauritius negotiations.

The Government has complied with the guidance set out in the Cabinet Manual on the access to papers of a previous administration.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 60851 on Gibraltar: Sovereignty, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the sovereignty clause on Gibraltar.

The sovereignty clause safeguards UK sovereignty over Gibraltar. It makes clear that the Treaty is explicitly not about Gibraltar's sovereignty. We are steadfast in our support for Gibraltar, which remains a critical part of our wider UK family.This Government is fully committed to the double lock: we will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their freely and democratically expressed wishes. And we will never enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an estimate of cash payments to be made to Mauritius in each of the next 99 years under the provisions of the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia; and what estimate he has made of levels of annual inflationary uplifts.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the reply to her question 57197.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding his Department plans to provide to each of the Overseas Territories in each of the next five years.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) recently received its Spending Review (SR) settlement from the Treasury for the three years of the SR period (FY26/27 to FY28/29). Final decisions on funding for the Overseas Territories (OTs) in each of these years is subject to the FCDO's post-SR settlement multi-year internal allocations process which is expected to conclude later this year.In the current financial year (25/26) the FCDO is providing up to £168.37 million of programme funding to the OTs: £126.27 million in Official Development Assistance (ODA) non-discretionary programme funding for the four ODA eligible Territories (Montserrat, St Helena, Tristan da Cunha, Pitcairn Islands) for essential services and critical infrastructure.£6.40 million in ODA discretionary programme funding for the four ODA eligible Territories, and£35.70 million in non-ODA discretionary programme funding for the non-ODA Territories to help meet our constitutional, international and legal responsibilities, and Ministerial and Territory priorities. It is delivered by several Government Departments and agencies through thematic, cross-Territory programmes and largely as capacity building support.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral evidence given by the Minister for the Overseas Territories to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 23 June 2025, if he will provide written responses to (a) Q64, (b) Q76, (c) Q77, (d) Q78, and (e) Q79 before the end of the 21-day CRAG process.

Follow up will be provided by means of a letter to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the UK/Mauritius Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what assessment he has made of the potential risk of Mauritius initiating legal challenges in relation to activities (a) at and (b) from Diego Garcia under the provisions of Article 4 and Article 7 of that Treaty.

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 United Kingdom will ensure all operations on Diego Garcia comply with its obligations under applicable international law.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Article 1 of the proposed UK-Mauritius Treaty will place (a) the Chagos Archipelago and (b) Diego Garcia under the geographical scope of the Pelindaba Treaty.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the reply to her question 57628.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, wth reference to the UK/Mauritius Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), whether Mauritius can permit (a) vessels, (b) submarines and (c) facilities provided by other countries to be (i) established and (ii) based in the Chagos Archipelago.

The Treaty explicitly grants all rights and authorities that the United Kingdom requires for the long-term, secure and effective operation of the Base. We will retain full control over Diego Garcia with robust provisions to keep adversaries out. These include unrestricted access to and use of the base for the UK and US; a buffer zone around Diego Garcia; a comprehensive mechanism to ensure no activity in the other islands threatens base operations; and a ban on the presence of any foreign security forces.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 58962 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, what the previous currency was prior to the shift to sterling values; whether the indexation measure was changed between October 2024 and the Treaty being signed on 22 May 2025; and what changes were made in relation to the provisions on protecting the base.

The finance package was previously denominated in US Dollars. Transferring to Sterling reduced future foreign exchange risks for the UK and had no impact on overall cost. There was no change to the indexation measure between October 2024 and May 2025. I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to her previous question, 56761, on changes to the Treaty.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, If he has held discussions with his Mauritian counterpart on the applicability of the Pelindaba Treaty obligations on (a) the Chagos Archipelago;and (b) Diego Garcia as a consequence of the UK-Mauritius Treaty.

I refer the Rt Hon member to the reply to her question 57628.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the total funding contribution provided to Mauritius through (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral institutions (i) since July 2024, (ii) for 2025-26 and (iii) for each of the next five financial years.

UK Official Development Assistance can be found in the "Statistics on International Development (SID)." The UK Official Development Assistance spend in Mauritius from July 2024 is not yet available on SID and the latest data is up to 2023.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which (a) international treaties and (b) obligations will apply to (i) the Chagos Archipelago and (ii) Diego Garcia as a result of the transfer of sovereignty to Mauritius; and if he has undertaken an assessment of the potential impact of those obligations on (A) the Chagos Archipelago and (B) Diego Garcia.

The Treaty ensures that its terms are compatible with the other international obligations of the Parties, current and future. The United Kingdom will ensure all operations on Diego Garcia comply with its obligations under applicable international law.