§ Mr. MorleyThe second petition was raised by a local Greenpeace group, which has asked me to bring it to the attention of the House. It is signed by more than 2,000 people in the Glanford and Scunthorpe constituency arid calls upon the Government to support the concept of a world wilderness park. There has been a recent conference attended by all the countries which are signatories to the Antarctic treaty to discuss the future of Antarctica. The Antarctic Minerals Act 1989 paves the way for commercial exploitation of that last great untouched wilderness.
Many people in this country feel that the Antarctic should be protected for future generations with a world wilderness park, and they call on the Government to support France and Australia, which have consistently campaigned for that objective.
With permission, I shall read the petition:
The Humble Petition of residents of Glanford arid Scunthorpe sheweth that there is an urgent need to protect the Antarctic, the last great wilderness left on Earth, from destruction by commercial development. Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your honourable House will support international efforts to declare Antarctica a World Wilderness Park.
§ To lie upon the Table.