HL Deb 03 February 1994 vol 551 c103WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the necessary number of ratifications for the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to come into force have been registered, and whether it is now their intention to adhere to it.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

The 60th ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea was deposited on 16 November 1993. The convention will enter into force a year from this date. However, our objections to Part XI (deep seabed mining), which have been known for many years, remain. These objections and those of other industrialised countries are currently being addressed in consultations chaired by the Secretary-General of the UN. While these consultations continue, it is premature to consider the question of accession.