§ 2.29 p.m.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they support the treaty tabled by the United States of America in the United Nations Seabed Committee for the recognition of all resources beyond 200-metre depth from the coastline as an "international seabed area".]
THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (EARL JELLICOE)My Lords, at the August session of the United Nations' Seabed Committee the United Kingdom delegation welcomed the United States' draft 338 convention as a valuable contribution to international discussion of the seabed issue. It was tabled as a working paper and will need much study and further discussion before we can adopt any definitive view on its provisions. Meanwhile, we are giving careful consideration to its contents, including the proposal for a shallow limit to national jurisdiction and a trusteeship zone beyond it.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, while thanking the Minister, may I ask him two questions separately, of which I have given him notice? First, while I welcome the principle of the common heritage of mankind in Article I, may I ask whether Her Majesty's Government will seek deletion of the provision in chapter 3 for zones which are believed to be the richest in fish and minerals to be retained by the coastal States?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, like the noble Lord, Lord Brockway, I wish to make it clear that Her Majesty's Government support the principle that the seabed beyond the limits of national jurisdiction should be subject to an international régime and regarded as part of the common heritage of mankind. That is our fundamental principle on this question. But, as I indicated in my reply to the noble Lord's substantive Question, we wish to examine carefully the implications behind the very detailed draft convention which the United States' delegation have submitted, and at this stage I should not wish to be drawn into comments on particular aspects of it.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, again thanking the Minister, and recognising that there will be an opportunity for a further discussion in a debate which is to be raised from the Prelates' Benches, may I ask him this further question? Is it the case, as reported, that Her Majesty's Government have proposed that the oceans be divided into national squares under the control of separate Governments; and, if so, would not this be a denial of the principle of corporate sovereignty?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, this is certainly not my understanding of the position taken by Her Majesty's Government. So far as I know, there are no proposals to carve up the ocean floors into separate parcels of national sovereignty, but there are all sorts of proposals, which 339 various delegations have submitted, for some measure of national control nearer shore. There is great complexity in the proposals before the Seabed Committee.