To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further action the Government plans to take in relation to (a) compensation and (b) repatriation for the Chagos Islanders; and if she will make a statement. (141056)

The Chagossians have already received compensation to the value of £14.5 million at today’s prices through two payments made in the early 1970s and 1982. They were also given the right to apply for British citizenship by the British Overseas Territories Act 2002.

In 2004, the Court of Appeal, following a two year litigation, confirmed the decision of Mr. Justice Ouseley in rejecting all claims by the Chagos Islanders to additional compensation from the Government.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will consider the 23 May judgment of the Court of Appeal carefully. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reserves the right to petition the House of Lords to grant permission to appeal, as she is entitled to do within one month. The Government’s policy in relation to the British Indian Ocean Territory therefore remains the subject of possible ongoing legal proceedings and it would be inappropriate to comment further.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government’s policy is on the return of the Chagossians to the Chagos Islands following the Court of Appeal ruling that the orders in council preventing them from returning were unlawful. (142051)

The Court of Appeal handed down its judgment on the 2004 Orders in Council on 23 May. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will consider it carefully and reserves the right to petition the House of Lords to grant permission to appeal, as she is entitled to do within one month.

The Government’s policy in relation to the British Indian Ocean Territory therefore remains the subject of possible ongoing legal proceedings and it would be inappropriate to comment further.