§ Q8. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the progress made towards agreement among the chief maritime nations on the question of international waters and freedom of access thereto.
§ The Prime MinisterThe United Kingdom and 39 other nations are party to the 1958 Geneva Convention on the High Seas, which specifically recognises freedom of navigation as one of the freedoms of the high seas. The 1958 Geneva Convention on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone prohibits the suspension of innocent passage through straits which are used for international navigation.