Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there have been any initiatives taken by any contracting parties to the 1959 Antarctic treaty, under articles IX and XII, to modify the prohibition on the disposal of nuclear waste in the Antarctic territories under treaty article V.
§ Mr. EggarNo such initiative has been taken. At the VIII Antarctic treaty consultative meeting held in Oslo in 1975 the consultative parties noted the increasing production of nuclear materials and the growing concern over the disposal of nuclear waste. Against this background the consultative parties recalled their commitment to article V of the Antarctic treaty and adopted recommendations VIII-12 to the effect that no one should dispose of radioactive waste in the Antarctic treaty area.