Contributions
1,614 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyI like the right hon. Lady, but I have to say that I find it extremely unhelpful the way that the Falklands, Gibraltar and other overseas territories, which are not comparable…18 Dec 2024HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyWe are absolutely not damaging our security; we are protecting it through this deal, and that is why this deal has been agreed—to protect the operation of that base; to protect it…18 Dec 2024HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyNo, I have not, and I certainly have not heard them from the Opposition Benches.18 Dec 2024HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyAs I said, we take the interests of Chagossian communities incredibly seriously. The deal provides for Chagossians to return to the outer islands and to resettle them if Mauritius…18 Dec 2024HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyYes, indeed. As far as I am aware, that is the case. In fact, the opposite is true. There has been a warm welcome for this agreement from across the United States security…18 Dec 2024HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyWe very much welcome, as I have said before, the election of President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Vance. During the transition period, there are restrictions on what…18 Dec 2024HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyI have engaged with many Chagossian groups. The hon. Member will know, as I have said multiple times, that there are a range of views across the Chagossian community. He is…18 Dec 2024HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyThe right hon. Gentleman knows that I have immense respect for him and his work in this House. I take issue with his choice of words. We have incredible officials in this…18 Dec 2024HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyThe Prime Minister of Mauritius has made it very clear in his exchange of letters with the Prime Minister of this country and also in his statement yesterday that they are willing…18 Dec 2024HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyI thank the right hon. Lady for her question. We welcome yesterday’s reiteration by Prime Minister Ramgoolam of his willingness to conclude a deal with the UK. We are confident…18 Dec 2024HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyI thank my hon. Friend for her important work on Gibraltar, as I thank you for yours, Mr Speaker. I have said this before and I will confirm again that we are absolutely and…18 Dec 2024HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyI agree with the right hon. Member’s characterisation of what happened to the Chagossians in the past. It is a matter of deep regret for this Government, and, indeed, I think that…18 Dec 2024HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyI have engaged with the Chagossian community twice in recent months, as I have made clear in answers to a number of parliamentary questions tabled by the right hon. Gentleman’s…18 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe Government inherited a situation in the British Indian Ocean Territory involving Tamil migrants from India and Sri Lanka who had arrived there. We are delivering a solution…26 Nov 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsOur support is absolute and resolute. I am happy to meet the hon. Member to discuss these issues further. We will maintain our position.26 Nov 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy colleagues in the Cabinet Office, me, the Foreign Secretary and others are engaged in a number of conversations with our EU counterparts, but I will not give a running…26 Nov 2024HANSARDGeorgia ElectionsThe right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to point to the important work the BBC World Service does in this area, in particular through its language services. I have in the…26 Nov 2024HANSARDGeorgia ElectionsI recognise my hon. Friend’s long-standing interest in this issue and his strong views on it. Let me be clear. On 28 October, His Majesty’s ambassador to Georgia called on the…26 Nov 2024HANSARDGeorgia ElectionsAhead of the elections on 11 October, I expressed my concerns directly to Foreign Minister Darchiashvili about pressure on civil society and stigmatisation of minorities ahead of…26 Nov 2024HANSARDEU Security and Defence Co-operationI thank my hon. Friend for his remarks on that important treaty work; I know he takes a keen interest in matters relating to UK-German relations. We continue to engage with German…26 Nov 2024