HL Deb 02 February 1978 vol 388 cc915-6WA
Lord KENNET

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Within what distance of the shores of the United Kingdom would the Composite Negotiating Text permit a foreign Government to emplace equipment on the seabed for purposes other than economic exploration or exploitation.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

If the equipment affected the exercise of the sovereign and exclusive rights enjoyed by the United Kingdom in its fishery zone of 200 miles from base lines and in respect of its Continental Shelf, the placing of equipment on the seabed for purposes other than economic exploration or exploitation would appear prima facie to be unlawful. In other circumstances the distance would be three miles from the base lines.