- The future of legislation intended to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been thrown into doubt following comments from the Defence Secretary, Dan Jarvis.
- Mr Jarvis indicated he is 'looking very closely at the detail' regarding plans to cede sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) while retaining control of the Diego Garcia military base.
- He did not deny that funds previously earmarked for Mauritius, intended for the lease-back of the base, could now be redirected to defence spending, describing it as a 'fair question'.
- The deal, signed in May last year, would see Britain hand sovereignty to Mauritius but lease back the Diego Garcia base for 99 years, involving average annual payments of £101 million.
- The Bill to conclude London’s control over the islands stalled during the last parliamentary session, reportedly due to objections from the then-US president.
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