§ Mr. D. Priceasked the Lord Privy Seal what is Her Majesty's Government's policy as to the extent of British sovereignty above the surface of the United Kingdom; and whether it is their policy that the ionosphere and beyond are res extra commercium and therefore should be treated, like the high seas, as res communis.
§ Mr. HeathHer Majesty's Government consider that sovereignty over space above national territory cannot extend indefinitely upwards. It cannot, however, be said that international law has yet determined the exact limit to be placed on the extension of sovereignty upwards. In Her Majesty's Government's view, it would be premature to attempt such a definition at present.
193WAs to the second part of the Question, Her Majesty's Government stand by operative paragraph 1 (b) of Part A of the resolution 1721 (XVI) adopted unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly on 20th December, 1961. This commends to States for their guidance the principle that
Outer Space and celestial bodies are free for exploration and use by all States in conformity with international law and are not subject to national appropriation.