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 16th AGM and 103rd meeting on 15 October. Jeremy Corbyn (Ind) was elected Chairman and Lord Horam (Cons), Baroness Ludford (Lib-Dem) and Catherine West (Lab) were elected vice chairs.Richard Gifford was appointed Legal Adviser and David Snoxell Coordinator. Members took note of the PQs and ministerial  statements since the last meeting on 8 July.

Members discussed the UK/Mauritius treaty which was signed by both prime ministers on 22 May and which would be implemented in law by the passage of the Diego Garcia and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill which had its first reading on 15 July and second reading on 9 September in the Commons. The Committee stage was scheduled for 20 October.The second reading of the bill in the Lords was due on 4 November. The Bill was expected to complete its passage through both Houses by Christmas. Ratification would follow in the new year.  Members present discussed the parliamentary process and the differing views of Parliamentarians concerning  the implementation of the treaty, the transfer of sovereignty to Mauritius, the protection and administration of the base on Diego Garcia by the UK, the positions of  Chagossian groups in the UK and Mauritius, the potential for return and resettlement of Chagossians on the Outer Islands and a new Marine Protected Area under Mauritian sovereignty. It was expected that the Chagos Refugees Group (CRG) would issue a further statement on its position.

Members observed that the 25th anniversary of the High Court judgement allowing Chagossians to return to the Outer Islands and the 3rd anniversary of the joint UK/Mauritius statement announcing negotiations for an overall settlement was on 3 November and that the 60th anniversary of the creation of BIOT was on 8 November. Parliament had been seized of these issues for 60 years. It was therefore high time that the treaty resolving them became law and was fully implemented. This would be the start of a new and positive chapter in UK/ Mauritius  bilateral relations and fortify the UK's standing in the UN and on the  international stage as a country which stood up for the rule of law. Members also noted that Pope Leo X1V had met Olivier Bancoult, chairman and CRG members, Richard Gifford and Philippe Sands on 27 August at The Vatican and expressed his support for the UK/Mauritius Treaty and the prospect of Chagossians returning to their native archipelago.. 

 Meetings with Stephen Doughty, FCDO Minister responsible for Chagos and the new Mauritian High Commissioner HE Mr Rajesh Jeetah before Christmas were discussed. The next meeting of the APPG will be on 16 December. [Editor's note - this was subsequently delayed until 2 June 2026}

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: 14 May 2026