§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he has designated areas in the Western Approaches for licensing in the absence of agreement with the Irish Republican Government instead of referring the issue to international abitration and/or declaring the area a zone for joint exploration and development.
§ Mr. HattersleyIn the view of Her Majesty's Government, all the areas which they have designated in the South-Western Approaches, in preparation for the fifth round of offshore licensing appertain to the United Kingdom under international law.