§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) at what date and to what distance from their coast what countries have unilaterally claimed rights over their continental shelf, over exclusive or restricted fishing zones beyond three miles, and to prevent pollution arising more than three miles out, respectively; and at what date each of these claims was recognised by the United Kingdom;
(2) what proportion of all coastal states now claim right of any sort over the waters of the sea more than three and twelve miles off their coasts, respectively.
§ Mr. KershawMuch of this information is conveniently assembled in a document—A/AC 138/50—of 6th August, 1971 prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. A copy has been placed in the Library. It is not normally necessary expressly to recognise a maritime claim if in the view of Her Majesty's Government the claim is well founded in international law.