To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the causes of civil unrest in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The central demand of the demonstrators during the recent demonstrations in the Turks and Caicos Islands was that a date be set for elections.

In their joint Written Ministerial Statement made on 9 December, the Minister for the Overseas Territories and the Minister of State for International Development set out the milestones that the British Government currently assess would need to be met before elections could take place. These milestones do not include everything that will need to be done before elections take place, but they are, in the Government's view at this stage, the minimum preconditions before the Turks and Caicos Islands can return to elected government. It is hoped that these milestones will be met in time for elections to take place in 2012.

The governor remains open to dialogue with responsible community representatives to discuss their concerns.