HC Deb 28 April 1969 vol 782 cc933-4
38. Mr. Dodds-Parker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decision he has come to on proposals for the type of international organisation to control future development of the sea bed.

Mr. Mulley

We favour the establishment of an international régime governing exploration and exploitation of the deep sea bed as soon as practicable; such a régime should be effective, impartial and not unduly restrictive. Our view was more fully explained in a statement by our representative in the United Nations Sea-Bed Committee on 28th March, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is urgent to reach agreement on this before some controversial issue arises?

Mr. Mulley

Naturally, I should like to give an urgent decision on this question, but I think the hon. Member and the House must realise that it will be a very long job to work out a comprehensive agreement covering the areas and the rest of the difficult issues involved in the future exploration of the sea bed. I would not expect an early conclusion.

Mr. Wood

May we take it that the right hon. Gentleman and the Government would give support to the proposal which has been made that the part of the sea bed beyond national jurisdiction should be safeguarded for peaceful purposes?

Mr. Mulley

The arms control military aspects of the sea bed are, of course, under discussion now in the 18-nation Disarmament Committee, which is rather separate from the point raised by the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Dodds-Parker). Certainly we accept and support the principle, and we are doing what we can there to safeguard it, but, as in so many arms control and disarmament issues, the whole crunch is between the principle and the detailed application, and it is the detailed application which we are now studying in Geneva.

Mr. Dalyell

What reply has the Foreign Office sent to the proposals that it received on sea bed armaments from Senator Claiborne Pell, of Rhode Island?

Mr. Mulley

I could not say exactly what reply was sent, but my hon. Friend will understand that we cannot enter into negotiations bilaterally with citizens of other countries, no matter how distinguished they are, when at the same time there is a United Nations committee studying the problem. Our observations are made within the context of the United Nations committee where we try to reach agreement first on the principles and later, we hope, on the details of what is a complicated and involved problem.