Overseas territories
This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on British overseas territories. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.
Standard Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 17.01.2013 | Antarctic Bill - Committee Stage |
| The Antarctic Bill is presented as a Private Member's Bill by Neil Carmichael MP. This note sets out the issues discussed in the Bill Committee on 21 November 2012. These included: the timing of the enactment of the provisions relating to the liability annex, compatibility with existing shipping liability provisions, and the wider issue of the future of the British Antarctic Survey. | |
| 31.12.2012 | The Turks and Caicos Islands |
| This note briefly reviews the crisis of political and economic governance which has affected the Turks and Caicos Islands since 2008. A period of direct rule came to an end when fresh elections were held in November 2012. Only time will tell whether the Turks and Caicos Islands are now set on a new course - and, if so, what that course is. | |
| 18.07.2012 | Antarctica: the treaty system and territorial claims |
| The unique treaty system that protects the Antarctic is constantly updated and sometimes challenged. A current Private Member's Bill would implement recent changes in the UK. |
Research Papers
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 22.05.2013 | Disputes over the British Indian Ocean Territory: a survey |
| Between 1968 and 1973 the British Government cleared the entire Chagos Archipelago of its inhabitants, opening the way for a US military base on the biggest island, Diego Garcia. The Archipelago was made a British overseas territory, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). Two main disputes have arisen from these events. One has been between the Chagos Islanders and the British Government over the legality of the former's removal and whether they have a right to return. The other has been between the UK and Mauritius about sovereignty over the BIOT. The UK has said that it will cede sovereignty to Mauritius once the BIOT is no longer required for defence purposes. | |
| 11.10.2006 | Gibraltar: diplomatic and constitutional developments |
| Gibraltar: diplomatic and constitutional developments. House of Commons Library Research Paper 06/48. | |
| 22.05.2002 | Gibraltars constitutional future |
| Gibraltars constitutional future. House of Commons Library Research Paper 02/37. | |
| 22.04.1998 | Gibraltar, the United Kingdom and Spain |
| Gibraltar, the United Kingdom and Spain. House of Commons Library Research Paper 98/50. |
Select Committee Reports
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 23.03.2010 | Crown dependencies. |
| Justice Select Committee report [Commons] |
Early Day Motions
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 07.11.2011 | REPRESENTATION OF BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORIES AND CROWN DEPENDENCIES ON REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY |
| That this House calls on Her Majesty's Government to recognise the enormous contribution made by members of Her Majesty's Armed Services from each of the British Overseas Territories ... | |
| 04.04.2011 | TRISTAN DA CUNHA |
| That this House notes with concern the devastating effect of the recent grounding of the bulk carrier M.S. Oliva on the British Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha; recognises the ... | |
| 16.03.2011 | CELEBRATION OF ST PATRICK'S DAY IN MONTSERRAT |
| That this House joins the people of the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat in celebrating St Patrick's Day on 17 March 2011 as their national day; recognises the bond of friendship, ... | |
| 17.02.2011 | CLUSTER MUNITIONS AND DIEGO GARCIA |
| That this House welcomes the international treaty to ban the use, manufacture, sale and storage of cluster munitions that came into force on 1 August 2010; is concerned that the American ... | |
| 17.11.2010 | BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORIES AND REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY |
| That this House recognises the enormous contribution by members of Her Majesty's Armed Services from each of the British Overseas Territories in wars and conflicts over the years, fighting ... |
POST Papers
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 18.01.2013 | Biodiversity in UK Overseas Territories |
| The UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) support a diverse variety of habitats ranging from ice fields and rocky islands to coral reef atolls and tropical forests. This POSTnote summarises the challenges to conservation management and halting biodiversity loss in UKOTs, as required under international agreements. |
