HC Deb 04 July 1973 vol 859 cc515-6
9. Mr. Peter Archer

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he anticipates making public the proposals of Her Majesty's Government for the Law of the Sea Conference of 1974.

Mr. Amery

As I explained to the House last Thursday, Her Majesty's Government have already expressed views on the major topics with which the conference will be dealing. These are contained in statements made by the British delegation to the United Nations Sea Bed Committee, which is preparing for the conference.

Summaries of those statements are in the Library of the House.

I have nothing to add to them.

Mr. Archer

As the United Nations has already recognised that the wealth of the seas is the common heritage of mankind, will it not be a tragedy if the great bulk of that wealth is now appropriated by the most powerful, the best situated and technologically the most advanced countries? Will the Government at least say that an enclosure movement is not a method of enforcing law and order but its negation?

Mr. Amery

A comprehensive solution can emerge only through negotiation at the conference itself. I am sure that the hon. and learned Gentleman will be the first to agree that it would be unwise to reveal all our hand before the negotiations have begun, when other countries have not done so.

Mr. W. H. K. Baker

What machinery is available within my right hon. Friend's office to receive representations on this subject? Will he assure us that any representations made to the office will be carefully borne in mind, from whatever source they come? I have in mind, of course, the fishing industry.

Mr. Amery

There is no problem about making representations to the Government. They can be made to the Foreign Office, or, where fishing interests are concerned, to the Ministry of Agriculture, or, where industrial underwater economic interests are concerned, to the DTI.