§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Lord Privy Seal whether Her Majesty's Government support Fiji, Jamaica or Malta as the headquarters of the proposed International Sea-Bed Authority.
§ Mr. HurdDiscussion is still proceeding on the substance of the deep sea-bed mining regime; it would be premature to state a preference. For the headquarters the question will be decided in due course by the conference.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Lord Privy Seal what proposals have been made by the United Kingdom to the Working Group of 21 at the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference, concerning the composition and powers of the International Sea-Bed Authority, and the financing of the enterprise which will in due course be empowered to mine the manganese nodules on the deep sea-bed.
§ Mr. HurdThe composition and powers of the authority have not yet been considered by the Working Group 21.172W The United Kingdom delegation has joined others in proposing that adequate financial provision should be made for the enterprise without imposing excessive or unnecessary burdens on States or mining companies.