HC Deb 13 March 1961 vol 636 c80W
48. Mr. Crosland

asked the Lord Privy Seal what assurances he has received from the Icelandic Government that they will not, at the end of three years from now, claim fisheries limits beyond the twelve miles recently agreed between the two Governments.

Mr. Heath

The settlement with Iceland includes an undertaking by the Icelandic Government that they will give Her Majesty's Government six months' notice if they intend to extend their fishery jurisdiction further, and that any dispute in relation to such extension shall be referred to the International Court of Justice at the request of either party. The Icelandic Government have thus for the first time agreed to accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in regard to disputes on fishery limits. This, in Her Majesty's Government's view, constitutes a satisfactory safeguard against any further extension of Iceland's fishery jurisdiction which is not in accordance with international law. The undertaking referred to above is not limited to the three-year transitional period.