§ Mr. Cookasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what attitude the Government propose to take towards the resolution to be moved by the Republic of Kiribati at the forthcoming London dumping convention meeting; and what representatives Her Majesty's Government will be sending to the convention.
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§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe draft resolution submitted jointly by the Governments of Kiribati and Nauru to the seventh consultative meeting of the London clumping convention proposes amendments to the annexes to the convention. Under the rules of the convention, any such amendments have to be based on sound scientific or technical considerations. In the view of Her Majesty's Government, no such case has been demonstrated. The United Kingdom delegation to the seventh consultative meeting is therefore being instructed to oppose the draft resolution. Her Majesty's Government have also tabled a draft resolution, a copy of which I have placed in the Library of the House, together with a copy of the draft resolution proposed by the Governments of Kiribati and Nauru.
The precise composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the seventh consultative meeting has yet to be decided but, as in recent years, it will be led by a senior official from my Department.