Law of the Sea Convention

HC Deb 11 December 1996 vol 287 cc269-70W

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom plans to accede to the UN convention on the law of the sea. [8253]

Dr. Liam Fox

It is our intention that the United Kingdom will accede to the United Nations convention on the law of the sea in due course. Parliament will be told as soon as the Government have taken a decision.

Mr. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom is required to accede to the UN convention on the law of the sea by the beginning of March in order to retain its right to a representative on the Commission on limits to the continental shelf. [8256]

Dr. Fox

Any state which has deposited an instrument of ratification or accession to the United Nations convention on the law of the sea on or before 5 February 1997 may nominate a candidate for election to the Commission on the limits of the continental shelf. The UK has not done so. No state has the right to a representative.