To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British Indian Ocean Territory officials are based in Diego Garcia; what access they have to US military commanders; and to whom they report. (189825)

Commander British Forces (CBF) British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is the UK authority on Diego Garcia, leading a team of currently 42 military personnel. CBF BIOT is responsible for the conduct of UK civil and military activity reporting to the BIOT Commissioner in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and to the Chief of Joint Operations at Northwood, respectively. CBF has daily and routine access to the United States Commanding Officer on Diego Garcia.