§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from, and what discussions he has initiated with, any United Kingdom entity or mining company about seabed mining in connection with the United Nations convention on the law of the sea.
§ Mr. RifkindThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office has kept in close touch with the United Kingdom entities which have interests in deep seabed mining. So has the Department of Trade and Industry. We know of no potential United Kingdom operator who would wish to operate under the deep seabed mining regime presently proposed in the convention.