Written statement to Parliament

Progress in reviewing policy on resettlement of the British Indian Ocean Territory

Foreign Office Minister updated Parliament with the progress in reviewing policy on resettlement of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office and James Duddridge
• Published: 24 March 2015

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

• Location: Parliament
• Delivered on: 24 March 2015

James Duddridge, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said:

My Right Honourable Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Hugo Swire) informed the House on 10 February 2015 of the next steps in the Government’s review of its resettlement policy in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), following completion, on schedule, of an independent feasibility study. The study found there was not a clear indication of likely demand for resettlement, and costs and liabilities to the UK taxpayer were uncertain and potentially significant. Ministers have now agreed that further work should proceed to address these fundamental uncertainties to a point that a decision on the way ahead is possible.

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Published 24 March 2015