An Archive of Meetings of the APPG, Statements, Parliamentary Questions, Debates and other material is available in the APPG and Parliamentary Archive (click the link where you will be able to see the Archive contents). 

In December 2020 the APPG agreed that all correspondence with and from Ministers and officials could be made publicly available annually in January each year for the preceding year. The exception being any Ministerial letters marked "In Confidence" at the head.

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The Chagos Islands (BIOT) APPG held its 102nd meeting on 8 July under the chairmanship of Jeremy Corbyn MP. Members discussed developments since the last meeting on 13 May.

The signing of the UK/Mauritius Treaty concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia by the two Prime Ministers on 22 May had been an important landmark  in the Chagos narrative going back nearly 60 years. There had rarely been such a prolonged international, national, parliamentary and media debate on a foreign policy issue since WW2. Members discussed developments since the negotiations were announced on 3 November 2022 by the previous government and the resulting Agreement on 3 October 2024. Some 300 PQs had been answered since October along with numerous Urgent Questions, debates, government written statements and inquiries/reports by the  International Agreements Committee and the International Relations and Defence Committee of the House of Lords in June.

There had been a four hour debate on 30 June in the Lords which rejected an Opposition motion not to ratify the treaty. As the 21 sitting days for consideration of a treaty by Parliament had expired on 3 July the way was now open for consideration of the primary legislation that the Government would introduce, probably before the summer recess. This was expected to be a short bill to implement the treaty for legal and administrative purposes. Members noted that in the course of this debate the FCDO Minister had acknowledged the concerns expressed by peers regarding the  provisions  in the treaty for resettlement, land use and development, the Chagossian Trust Fund and engagement with Chagossian groups. Secondary legislation would follow later in the year. Ratification of the treaty was expected within about 6 months.

Members discussed the role of the APPG now that its objectives for resettlement and an overall settlement of the issues (adopted in January 2009 at  the APPG's second meeting) had been largely achieved by the treaty. They agreed that the APPG still had an important role to play in monitoring the legislation to be passed by Parliament and then the implementation of the treaty. Members felt they had an important task in supporting the interests of Chagossians, such as resettlement, visits and the operation of the Chagossian Trust Fund. They also emphasised the need for the UK and Mauritius to continue to work closely together on all aspects of implementation and concerns or disputes that could arise. They agreed that a positive and productive bilateral UK/Mauritius relationship was now a key dimension to managing the complexity of these issues.

Members agreed that the FCDO Minister of State, Stephen Doughty should be invited for a discussion with the Group in the autumn  and also that  the new Mauritian High Commissioner, HE Mr Rajesh Jeetah, be invited to address the Group after he has presented credentials. The next meeting will be at 4pm on 15 October

David Snoxell

Coordinator

Time for an overall settlement of the future of the Chagos Islands and of the Chagos Islanders

The Chagos Islands (BIOT) APPG held its 11th AGM and 75th meeting on 17 July 2019. Members reviewed developments since their last meeting on 22 May which had coincided with the debate in the UN General Assembly on the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion of 25 February. They took note of the statements made by the Prime Minister of Mauritius and the UK Permanent Representative to the UN. They welcomed UN Resolution 73/295 on the ICJ Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences of the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965, which the General Assembly adopted by 116 in favour, 6 against and 56 abstentions.

Recalling its statement of 21 December 2018 urging the Government to seek a resolution of the issues concerning the future of BIOT and of the Chagos Islanders the Group reaffirmed its wish to help bring about agreement between all parties on a way forward, in the light of the UNGA resolution setting a deadline of 22 November. The Group noted that the General Assembly was guided by the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, including the inalienable right of self-determination of peoples, and the obligations arising from other instruments and rules of international law.

The Group urges the next British Government to respect the will of the United Nations, the Opinion of the ICJ and the requirements of international law which from the signature of the United Nations Charter in 1945 remain the keystone of the UK’s foreign policy and commitment to international order based on the rule of law.

The APPG believes that these matters must now be addressed urgently in diplomatic discussions between the UK and Mauritius so that an outline agreement on the implementation of Resolution 73/295 can be put before the General Assembly at it 74th session beginning on 17 September. To that end the Group recommends that the next government appoints an independent special envoy to negotiate an agreement. Members look forward to discussing these issues with the next Foreign Secretary and Minister of State.

Page last updated: 9 Oct 2025