§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether agreement has yet been reached with France to delineate French and British licensing areas in the Western Approaches, Celtic Sea and English Channel.
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR or BELHELVIENo, my Lords.
§ THE EARL or LAUDERDALEMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that succinct and informative reply. May I ask whether France has adhered to the 1958 Convention on the Continental Shelf?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEYes, my Lords, we have always maintained that the 1958 Geneva Convention says clearly that if a boundary cannot be determined by agreement, the boundary is the Median Line.
§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, following that reply, can my noble friend say whether France, having signed the Convention, or at any rate adhered to it and ratified it, did so with any reservations or has given notice of seeking to revise it?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR or BELHELVIENo, my Lords, but we are still trying to reach agreement with the French Government. As my noble friend will understand, the discussions are, of course, confidential.
§ LORD STRATHCLYDEMy Lords, can my noble friend tell me where the Celtic Sea is? I have not been able to find it on the map.
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR or BELHELVIEMy Lords, it refers to the Irish Sea and of course the Scottish Seas.
§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that everyone hopes she will press on with success, no doubt assisted by her own charm and ability?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, I thank my noble friend very much for that encouragement. We shall certainly press on, but it is quite difficult.