§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to extending the territorial limit of the waters surrounding the Falkland Islands and their Dependencies.
§ Mr. RowlandsFollowing the United Kingdom's decision to extend her fishery limits to 200 miles on 1st January 1977, consideration is being given in consultation with Governors of dependent territories to extending dependent territories fishery limits to 200 miles.
§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had concerning the benefits to Great Britain that 660W could result from the discovery of oil in the waters surrounding the Falkland Islands and their Dependencies and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RowlandsIt is too soon to assess the prospects for the discovery of oil in commercial quantities in the area surrounding the Falkland Islands and their dependencies. So far the British Government and the Falkland Islands Executive Council have only approved applications by two firms to carry out seismic surveys within the area of the Falkland Islands Continental Shelf. These seismic surveys, whose results will be made available to the British Government, are a necessary preliminary stage in establishing the potential resources of the area.