Antarctica (Hansard, 17 March 2003)

§ Jeremy Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of tourists visiting Antarctica in each of the past five years by(a) cruise ship and (b) air, and their environmental impact; and if he will make a statement. [103448]

§ Mr. Mike O'Brien
The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) presents annually a report on tourism in Antarctica at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM). These reports detail tourist visits by cruise ship and air. Scientific monitoring of sites visited by tourists show that there has been no significant impact on the Antarctic environment from tourism.
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§ Jeremy Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total UK expenditure on the Antarctic Environmental Protocol Secretariat is for 200–03 and how much is projected for 2003–04. [103449]

§ Mr. Mike O'Brien
There is no Antarctic Environmental Protocol Secretariat as such. However it was agreed in principle at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in 2001 that an Antarctic Treaty Secretariat should be set up. Given that this has yet to be established there has been no UK expenditure to date.

§ Jeremy Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have been held with the Governments of(a) Chile, (b) Argentina, (c) South Africa, (d) Australia and (e) New Zealand concerning the funding of the Antarctic Environmental Protocol Secretariat; and if he will make a statement. [103451]

§ Mr. Mike O'Brien
We are in regular discussions with the Argentineans regarding the proposed Antarctic Treaty Secretariat to be located in Buenos Aires.Negotiations on setting up the Secretariat, including its funding, continue with the Governments of Chile, South Africa. Australia and New Zealand, as with all other Antarctic Treaty Parties, at annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCM). The next of these will be held in Madrid (June 2003). Separately, an informal intersessional meeting is scheduled for 1 to 4 April in Buenos Aires to discuss matters relating to the Treaty Secretariat.