§ Lord KENNETasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Answer given by Lord Goronwy-Roberts on 2nd May (Official Report, column 169) to the effect that—
There are no plans to extend the United Kingdom territorial sea from 3 to 12 nautical miles at this time. However, the Government support the proposal at the Law of the Sea Conference to establish the right of coastal States to declare a territorial sea up to 12 miles in breadth, as part of an internationally acceptable régime for territorial watersis consistent with the evidence on the same subject given by the Department of Trade to the Trade and Industry Sub-Committee of the Expenditure Committee of the House of Commons on 10th May, and with the European Communities Foreign Ministers' acceptance of the Commission recommendation on a general 12 nautical mile extension of the territorial sea.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSThere is no inconsistency. The proposal put to the Foreign Affairs Council on 2nd May was accepted by the Council for further study; and it is now being considered by the Member States with the Commission. The Government's own examination of the question is also in progress.