HC Deb 11 May 1981 vol 4 c203W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether any new treaty is contemplated for the Antarctic; and what is the number and list of signatories to the existing conventions.

Mr. Ridley

A new treaty for the Antarctic is not contemplated. The following were the original signatories of the Antarctic treaty: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, USSR, United Kingdom, United States of America. The following countries have acceded to the treaty: Brazil, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Uruguay. Papua New Guinea has succeeded to the treaty.

In 1972 the original signatories to the Antarctic treaty negotiated and signed the convention for the conservation of Antarctic seals and, in 1980, together with Poland, the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democractic Republic, negotiated and signed the convention for the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources.