To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) historic and (b) other entitlements affect his Department's ability to enforce the proposed new Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area. (302472)

No decision has yet been taken on whether a Marine Protected Area will be established in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). A decision will be taken following the public consultation which is at present underway.

The UK is responsible for enforcing protection of the BIOT Fisheries and Conservation Management Zone/Environmental Preservation and Protection Zone and this would also be the case for any proposed Marine Protected Area. Surveillance and monitoring of the fisheries is, at present, carried out by a Senior Fisheries Protection Officer based on board the BIOT Patrol Vessel—the Pacific Marlin, and the Marine Resources Assessment Group's monitoring centre in London.