§ Mr. Colemanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the views expressed by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in the recommendation 5194 on the United Nations convention on the law of the sea; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RifkindThe Assembly recommendation calls on Governments to sign the convention and to play an active role in the Preparatory Commission. We have made it clear that we will not sign the convention until improvements are obtained to the mining regime. But, as a signatory to the final act of the law of the sea conference, the United Kingdom already plays an active role in the preparatory commission.