HC Deb 06 November 1958 vol 594 cc97-8W
69. Mr. Stan Awbery

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made in the negotiations on territorial sea limits and fishing, rights; to what extent the Icelandic Government still insist on the 12-mile limit; and if he will take steps to bring about a multilateral agreement either through the United Nations General Assembly or by an international conference of fishing countries.

Mr. Ian Harvey

The only negotiations now proceeding are those with Denmark about Faroese fishery limits. At present, both Governments are studying the recommendations of officials following a meeting on 29th October. There are no negotiations with Iceland, the Icelandic Government having declined to negotiate while persisting in their attempt to assert unilaterally an exclusive fishery limit of twelve miles. Her Majesty's Government are in favour of the proposal, at present before the General Assembly of the United Nations, that a second special conference on the Law of the Sea should be convened and Her Majesty's Government intend at such a conference to do their best to secure agreement on the breadth of the territorial sea and fishing limits.