British Indian Ocean Territory: Negotiations

In the House of Commons, a minister addressed the government's practice of making major announcements during parliamentary recesses, which the speaker found frustrating for members on both sides of the House. The minister acknowledged that the government's business continues during recess and that ministers must respond to events in the UK and globally. However, the speaker expressed concern that significant planned announcements were often scheduled when the House was not sitting, particularly towards the end of recess periods. The speaker appreciated the government's direct communication on some of these issues, but emphasized that this does not substitute for informing the House itself. The speaker argued that if announcements made towards the end of the previous week had been delayed until after the weekend, members would have had the first opportunity to question the relevant Secretary of State, rather than learning about the developments through the media. The minister was urged to come to the House to announce policies in the first instance, even if that meant waiting a few days. The speaker dismissed the excuse that there was an election elsewhere in the world, stating that the elected members of this House are the ones they represent, not events happening in other countries.