Deep Sea Bed Mining

HC Deb 14 January 1981 vol 996 cc547-8W

Mr. Hooley

asked the Lord Privy Seal what was the substance of the discussions related to deep sea bed mining held in Washington in November 1980 between the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, West Germany, Belgium, Holland, Italy and Japan; and what will be the purpose of the follow-up meeting to take place in Bonn in January 1981.

Mr. Hurd

The meetings in Washington and Bonn are part of a long-standing arrangement for confidential intergovernmental consultations in the context of UNLOSC on matters of common interest regarding deep sea mining, including interim national arrangements before the convention comes into force and co-ordination at the conference.

Mr. Hooley

asked the Lord Privy Seal if any unilateral action is now being contemplated by Western countries possessing the technology for deep sea bed mining to preempt the decisions of the UNLOS conference in March 1981.

Mr. Hurd

No. Her Majesty's Government remain fully committed to the successful negotiation of a law of the sea convention covering deep sea bed mining and other matters.