§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Nations convention on the law of the sea will enter into force; and what are the implications for the United Kingdom's interests in deep sea mining and other areas covered by the convention which flow from its implementation, although the United Kingdom is not a signatory.
§ Mr. RifkindThe convention will enter into force one year after sixty ratifications and accessions in respect of states ratifying or acceding to it. So far, there have been 14 ratifications. In respect of states ratifying or acceding subsequently, it enters into force 30 days after the deposit of the instrument of accession by the state in question. The United Kingdom, as a state which has not acceded to the convention, would become bound by the rules envisaged in the convention only in so far as they were generally accepted and regarded as rules of customary international law. How far they are or may come to be so regarded depends on the past and future state practice of countries generally. As for deep sea mining, British operators have made it clear they would not wish to operate under the convention's present mining regime.