§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Kennecott Consortium, which includes British interests, and has been granted a licence for exploration of the deep sea bed by the United States Government, can call upon the assistance of the United States Navy or the Royal Navy should their exploratory activities be interfered with by other parties who do not recognise the legality of licences issued otherwise than under the system established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraThe licence to which the noble Lord refers was issued by the United States Government to a United States company acting on behalf of the Kennecott Consortium. That company will no doubt look to the United States Government on matters related to that licence.