Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs written question – answered at on 25 November 2008.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost has been to his Department of contesting legal action brought by Chagos islanders seeking to return to the Chagos Islands in each year since 1999-2000.
There have been three separate legal cases concerning the British India Ocean Territory (BIOT). My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has paid the following sums in respect of legal fees incurred in defending those cases.
R (Bancoult) v. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and another: £175,268.44—legal fees; £280,000—applicant's legal fees paid by the Secretary of State following judgment in favour of the applicant.
Chagos Islanders v. (1) the Attorney-General (2) Her Majesty's BIOT Commissioner: £752,362.78—legal fees.
R (Bancoult) v. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: the award costs for this case are currently being considered by the Law Lords.
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