HC Deb 25 July 1963 vol 681 cc1773-4
Q4. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to co-ordinate the activities of the Minister of Power and the Lord Privy Seal in the necessary preliminaries to the preparation and introduction of legislation to enable the 1958 Geneva Convention of the Seaconcerning mineral exploration and exploitation on Continental Shelf areas to be ratified.

The Prime Minister

I am satisfied that the Ministers concerned are in close consultation and agreement.

Mr. Dalyell

Is it accepted that both oil and methane scientists are worried lest their activities in the North Sea may be hampered by want of non-controversial legislation?

The Prime Minister

If there were an agreement, there would, of course, have to be legislation to deal with some of the things to do with prohibitions and obligations contained in the Convention in order to make them part of the law of this country. In addition, there would have to be an administra- tive framework for exploration and exploitation, which would have to be given a statutory basis.

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