TNAG-0544-FCO40-639-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 91

FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEBATE: MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER

DIEGO GARCIA: LINE TO TAKE ON THE ASSERTION THAT PARLIAMENT HAS NOT BEEN KEPT INFORMED

1.

As my Rt Hon Friend the Lord Fresident of the Council pointed out in the House on 16 October, a considerable amoun t of information has been given over a period of time.

The

then Secretary of State for the Colonies informed the House

in a Written Answer on 10 November 1965 of the decision to

establish the British Indian Ocean Territory, of which

Diego Garcia forms part. It was made clear at that time

that this would involve the resettlement of the workers on

the islands in the Chagos Archipelago. The agreements between HMG and the US Government concerning the availability of the British Indian Ocean Territory for defence purposes

and the establishment of the limited US naval communications

facility on Diego arciu were laid before Farliament at the

time. Various aspects of Diego Garcia have been dealt with in questions over the past year. I myself have been called

upon to answer some 30 odd questions in recent weeks. I

cannot therefore accept the assertion that the House has not

been kept informed.

MODEL REPLY TO PARTICULAR POINTS ALREADY COVERED IN PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave

Which was given to the Hon Member for West Lothian on 13/16 October Hounslow on 21 October

etc.

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