Member

33: After Clause 1, insert the following new Clause— “Referendum (No. 2)(1) Subsections (2) to (6) are the conditions of this section for the purposes of section 1(2A).(2) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must conduct a referendum of the Chagossian community.(3) The referendum must be conducted in writing and in a format and language as considered appropriate by the Secretary of State to be satisfied the response will be valid.(4) The question to be put to the Chagossian community in the referendum is stated in subsection (5).(5) The question is—“In recognising the international principals of self-determination, do you agree that the implementation of the Treaty agreed between the United Kingdom and Mauritius must guarantee the rights of Chagossians in a legal right—(a) of resettlement on the Islands of the Chagos Archipelago other than Diego Garcia,(b) of participation in the operation in and opportunities of working in and visiting Diego Garcia, and(c) to be involved in decision making on the operation of the Trust Fund for the benefit of the Chagossian Community?”(6) Within 30 days of the result of the referendum the Secretary of State must lay a statement before both Houses of Parliament setting out how they intend to respond to the referendum.(7) In this section, “Chagossian community” means those Chagossians identified by the Secretary of State who will be impacted by the Act.”Member’s explanatory statement This amendment would require the Secretary of State to hold a written referendum of the Chagossian community within six months of Royal Assent on whether the implementation of the UK–Mauritius Treaty adequately guarantees their rights to resettlement, consultation, and participation in decision-making, and to lay a statement before Parliament setting out the Government’s response to the result.