§ 21. Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about progress towards the United Kingdom signing the convention on the law of the sea.
§ Mr. RifkindAs I explained in my statement to the House on 2 December, we need to obtain satisfactory improvements in the deep sea mining regime envisaged in the convention and are therefore exploring the prospects with interested states.
§ 40. Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many countries have now signed the convention on the law of the sea.
§ Mr. RifkindThe position, as of 8 February, is that the convention has been signed on behalf of 119 states, the Cook Islands and the United Nations Council for Namibia. Forty-six states have not signed the convention.
§ 47. Mr. Gregor MacKenzieasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what amendments he has proposed to the law of the sea convention.
§ 52. Mr. Maxtonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to promote amendments to the convention on the law of the sea.
§ Mr. RifkindI have nothing to add to the reply which my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Anglesey (Mr. Best) on 24 January—[Vol. 35, c.304.]