HL Deb 19 June 1979 vol 400 cc956-7WA
Lord KENNET

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are opposed, as some of our NATO allies are opposed, to the proposal put forward by the Soviet Union at the recent meeting of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, for allowing those capable of so doing to establish artifical islands or platforms over the Continental Shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, even though the natural resources of the Continental Shelf at this point would be within the sovereign jurisdiction of the coastal State; and if not, why not.

Lord CARRINGTON

Under the Informal Composite Negotiating Text of the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference the coastal State would have exclusive rights to establish such artificial islands or platforms. We are satisfied with this proposal, and support it at the Conference.