§ 59. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Great Britain will be represented, and by whom, at the United Nations Legal Committee to be held in Rome next March to study the question of free access to the sea of landlocked countries as established by international practice or treaties; if he will state its scope; to what extent it will deal with the legal, technical, biological and political aspects of the problems involved; and if he will report its progress periodically to the House.
§ Mr. Ian HarveyHer Majesty's Government will be represented at the conference which it is proposed that the Secretary-General of the United Nations should convene in Rome in March, 1958, to examine the law of the sea and in particular the recommendations of the International Law Commission on this subject. It is proposed that the conference should take account not only of the legal but also of the technical, biological, economic and political aspects of the problem, and should embody the results of its work in one or more international conventions or such other instruments as it may deem appropriate. The conference is also to study the question of free access to the sea by landlocked countries, as established by international practice or treaties.
It has not yet been decided who should represent Her Majesty's Government at this conference, but my right hon. and learned Friend will be glad to inform the House in due course.