§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about British sovereignty over the oceans around the Falkland Islands and their dependencies.
§ Dr. OwenThe territorial waters of the Falkland Islands and their dependencies are currently set at three miles measured from base lines.
§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what evidence he has of the existence of oil in commercially exploitable quantities under the seas around the Falkland Islands; how many applications he has received for licences to prospect for oil under those seas; and what proposal:, the Government have for oil prospecting and exploration under those seas.
§ Dr. OwenThe data received by the British Government from the surveys carried out early last year around the Falkland Islands are still being evaluated. Until evaluation is completed it is not possible to make any judgment of what368W the prospects might be for the presence of commercially exploitable hydocarbons. No licence applications to prospect for oil have been received and Her Majesty's Government have no proposals at present for oil exploration in the area.