Member

The analysis of such a question is context specific, and it would not necessarily be wise or useful for the Government to speculate on a hypothetical situation, but I will address this point further, since the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, and the noble Lords, Lord Beamish, Lord Ahmad and Lord Weir, raised it. We have stated on numerous occasions—and I put it on the record again for clarity—that the obligation to notify does not require us to notify Mauritius in advance of any armed attack, and no sensitive details of military activities would ever be passed on. No notifications will therefore present a risk to the operations of the base.