§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether intergovernmental contacts or preparatory work have been undertaken in preparation for the renewal of the Antarctic treaty.
§ Mr. OnslowNo. The Antarctic treaty remains in force indefinitely. There is provision for a review of the operation of the treaty after it has been in force for 30 years—that is in 1991—if this is requested by any of the contracting parties which have demonstrated their interest in Antarctica by conducting substantive scientific research activity there. Intergovernmental contacts between the consultative parties to the treaty take place regularly on other aspects of Antarctic activity.