To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 6 December (WA 3), who are the members of the British Indian Ocean Territory administration; and who is the British Indian Ocean Territory Commissioner.

There are a number of officials of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). The BIOT commissioner is appointed by Her Majesty the Queen by instructions through a Secretary of State. Mr Colin Roberts is the current BIOT commissioner.

Under Section 7 of the BIOT (Constitution) Order 2004, the commissioner appoints a commissioner's representative, a deputy commissioner and a BIOT administrator. The current commissioner's representative is a Royal Navy commander appointed by the Ministry of Defence as Commander British Forces at BIOT. The deputy commissioner and the BIOT administrator are currently members of the Overseas Territories Directorate in the FCO. BIOT law allows these officers to delegate responsibility for issuing permits.