HL Deb 08 February 1978 vol 388 cc1038-40

2.47 p.m.

Lord KENNET

My 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 are aware of the discussions being carried on between Norway, the relevant sovereign Power, and the Soviet Union, one of many Contracting Parties to the 1920 Treaty of Paris, on the subject of the Spitzbergen Archipelago; and whether they are satisfied that they in no way breach the principle of "absolute equality" established by that treaty, and that nothing is being done in or over the Islands or their adjacent waters by the Soviet Union, or any other State party to the treaty, in breach of Article IX thereof, which precludes the Islands from being "used for warlike purposes."

The MINISTER of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)

My Lords, the only discussions between Norway and the USSR about Svalbard Archipelago of which the British Government are aware are the day-to-day contacts between the Norwegian Governor of Svalbard and the Soviet Consul on the island. Talks between the Fisheries Ministers of the two countries are due to take place soon over the administrative provisions of an extended fisheries protection zone established around Svalbard by the Norwegian Government in June 1977. The British Government are satisfied that the day-to-day contacts between the Norwegian Governor and the Soviet Consul are in no way in breach of the principle of "absolute equality" established by the 1920 Treaty of Paris. The applicability of the treaty to an extended fisheries zone around the archipelago is the subject of continuing discussions between Norway and a number of treaty signatories. The British Government are satisfied that nothing is being done by any signatory which breaches Article IX of the treaty.

Lord KENNET

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his informative Answer. May I ask him whether this country is included in the conversations about the fisheries zone which are being held between Norway and the other signatories? May I also ask him whether our Government, who have equal rights in Spitzbergen with eight or nine other countries, including the Soviet Union, are accustomed to exercising those rights, particularly the right to land and to use the place for various purposes, and, if not, whether or not it would be good that from time to time we should do so?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, the answer to the first point which has been made by my noble friend is, yes. That is also the answer to the second point which he has made. May I refer my noble friend to the 1920 Treaty of Paris, a copy of which I have here—no doubt he has one but, if not, I will gladly lend him mine. He will find that the points he has raised in the second part of his supplementary question are fully provided for in the terms of that treaty.