§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role Her Majesty's Government intend to play in the preparatory commission for the international Sea-Bed Authority and for the international tribunal for the law of the sea.
§ Mr. RifkindA United Kingdom delegation is currently attending the second session of the preparatory commission in Kingston, Jamaica and is playing an active role explaining our position and indicating the improvements to the deep seabed mining regime which we believe to be necessary.
§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will sign the United Nations convention on the law of the sea before 9 December.
§ Mr. RifkindWe are aware of the difficulty of obtaining the improvements to the deep seabed mining regime which will be necessary before the United Kingdom can sign the convention. But even after the signature period has ended, the convention will remain open for accession.