To ask Her Majesty's Government what provisions are in force for the control of nuclear waste and pollution in the British Indian Ocean Territory; and what contingency plans exist should a nuclear incident occur. [HL2377]

The United Kingdom has arrangements in place covering the use of operational berths around the globe, including in the British Indian Ocean Territory, by the Royal Navy's flotilla of nuclear-powered submarines and those of our allies.

The policy, which is owned by the Secretary of State for Defence, is to provide a simplified coherent strategy for all of these berths, irrespective of location. It is incumbent on the Commander in Chief Fleet, as duty holder for all operational berths, to demonstrate adequate arrangements for the management of nuclear and environmental safety at Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory. These arrangements are regulated by the Defence Nuclear Regulator on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence. Their consent is required before the berths are used.

Solid and liquid radioactive waste generated during routine operations onboard Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines is not currently landed at Diego Garcia; it is retained onboard until the submarine returns to the UK. Any change to this policy would require a waste plan acceptable to the regulatory authorities to be produced. Regular environmental surveys show that the marine environment has not been affected by visiting nuclear-powered submarines.

In the unlikely event of a nuclear emergency occurring at an approved berth in Diego Garcia, a special safety scheme has been drawn up by the local and naval authorities. The MoD's Nuclear Accident Response Organisation is responsible for ensuring an effective response to an accident or incident involving defence nuclear assets or materials, in accordance with its legal obligations and common law duty of care and in keeping with MoD and wider government policy.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is any dispute concerning the boundaries of the British Indian Ocean Territory Exclusive Economic Zone with any neighbouring states; and, if so, whether they intend to resolve those disputes prior to any declaration of a marine protected area. [HL2652]

The Government of the Maldives have informed us that they are in the process of submitting to the UN on the delimitation of the outer limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Maldives. They have noted that, should any issue arise with respect to the overlapping of their EEZ and our own Environment Preservation and Protection Zone (EPPZ), such issues will need to be discussed and resolved bilaterally between the Government and the Government of the Maldives.

We will of course liaise with the Government of the Maldives to resolve any outstanding questions relating to the delimitation of our respective EEZ/EPPZ whether or not a decision is taken to proceed with a marine protected area.