HC Deb 15 June 1981 vol 6 c279W
Mr. Peter Fraser

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the Government will consider extending the breadth of the United Kingdom territorial sea from three to 12 miles in view of the desirability of combating marine pollution.

Mr. Hurd

The Government support the provision in the draft convention on the law of the sea which envisages an extension of the territorial sea up to 12 nautical miles. The Government have set in hand the necessary preparations for United Kingdom legislation for such an extension. It is hoped that it will be possible to introduce this legislation in the context of the results emerging from the United Nations conference on the law of the sea.