§ THE EARL, OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions have taken place with Denmark to determine the British and Danish areas for licensing exploration of the Continental Shelf and Slope between the Faroe Islands and the British Isles.
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIENone, my Lords, because commercial exploitation in this area is not yet technically feasible.
§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, would not the noble Baroness agree that in this area again the fact that the technical advance has not so far been sufficient to bring this matter into the realm of actual politics is all the more reason to try to get agreement before it does; and that agreement is always easier to reach before things are found rather than afterwards?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEYes, my Lords.