Oral Question·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
“If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.”
Tabled: 8 January 2025Answered: 14 January 2025
Asked by
Sir Desmond Swayne
Conservative — New Forest West
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Answer from Hansard
Stephen Doughty
As I have said in the House on many occasions, there is no rush. [ Interruption. ] No, it is a fact that negotiations on this issue were going on for two years under the previous Government, with 10 rounds of failed negotiations. We have secured a deal that is in all of our interests and, crucially, secures our base and our national security interests and those of our allies on Diego Garcia.