HL Deb 02 February 1978 vol 388 cc916-7WA
Lord KENNET

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which States now claim to regulate overflight of straits in which the régime of free transit might be expected to operate.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

At present there is no right of overflight over territorial waters including those which constitute the waters of straits used for international navigation. But many such coastal States are parties to ICAO Conventions which permit overflight of territory and territorial waters and they regulate overflight in accordance with those Conventions. It is not possible, without close examination of the circumstances of each State, to give a comprehensive list of States whose territorial waters will include straits for which the straits regime of the Informal Composite Negotiating Text, produced at the Sixth Session of the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference, will apply.