§ Mr. Rhodesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government accepts Recommendation No. 597 on East-West relations and the organisation of a European Security Conference which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 29th January, 1970; and whether they will agree to the requests contained in paragraph 14A of this recommendation.
§ Mr. LuardHer Majesty's Government share the aspirations for East-West detente set out in the Council of Europe recommendation. We actively support the promotion of practical East-West exchanges in the problems of European security. Such exchanges are already in progress, at Western initiative, on the questions of Germany and Berlin, Multilateral exchanges, possibly at a conference, might well be desirable at a later date. The West's policy on East-West relations is under continuous and constructive review in N.A.T.O., which is at present studying possible procedures at my suggestion.
§ Mr. Rhodesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government accepts Recommendation No. 592 on youth problems in Europe which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th January, 1970; and whether they will comply with the requests set out in paragraph 18 of the recommendation.
§ Mr. FoleyMany of the proposals contained in Recommendation No. 592 of the Consultative Assembly are acceptable in principle to Her Majesty's Government: and some indeed, such as lowering392W of the minimum voting age to 18, are already applied in this country. But others will require further consideration.
§ Mr. Rhodesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government accepts Recommendation No. 585 on legal problems raised by the pollution of the sea which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 24th January, 1970; and whether they will ratify the instruments concluded by the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation and the amendments relating to intervention on the high seas in cases of oil pollution casualties, on civil liability for oil pollution damage, and the 1969 amendments concerning prevention of pollution of the sea by oil, 1954, respectively.
§ Mr. LuardHer Majesty's Government are in general in sympathy with the broad purposes of Recommendation No. 585.
Of the two Conventions signed in Brussels in November, 1969; under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation, we hope, as major promoters, to be among the first to ratify the Convention relating to the right of a coastal state to intervene on the high seas in cases of oil pollution casualties. We hope very shortly to be able to lay the text of the Convention before the House. However, the Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage raises complex issues. The necessary consultations are being pressed forward but some time must elapse before a decision can be made on ratification, and on other issues relating to the Convention, and hence on Her Majesty's Government's final attitude to Recommendation 585 as a whole. We hope to place a copy of the text of this Convention in the Library of the House shortly.
The 1969 amendments to the 1954 Convention on Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil will be accepted as soon as the necessary Bill to amend the Oil in Navigable Waters Acts, has been enacted.
§ Mr. Rhodesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government accepts Recommendation No. 580 on the International Institute of Human Rights 393W which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 23rd January, 1970; and whether they will make a regular contribution to the International Institute of Human Rights, as proposed in paragraph 9 of the Recommendation.
§ Mr. LuardWhile Her Majesty's Government are sympathetic to this recommendation, the question of a financial contribution to the Institute by the Council of Europe has not yet been considered by the Committee of Ministers, to whom the recommendation was addressed.
So far as the second part of the Question is concerned, my right hon. Friend has informed the President of the International Institute of Human Rights that we shall consider carefully the possibilities of collaboration between Her Majesty's Government and the Institute.