§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards(a) non-governmental visits to the Antarctic and (b) proposed tourist developments within the Antarctic by other nations.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe preamble to the Antarctic treaty calls for Antarctica to be used "exclusively for peaceful purposes". In our view, non-governmental visits and tourist developments in Antarctica fall into this category. We therefore do not object to them, as long as they comply with the relevant provisions of the Antarctic treaty, and measures adopted under it.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed change from consensus decision to majority voting in 1991 on the future operation of the Antarctic treaty.
§ Mr. WaldegraveAny proposed amendment to the Antarctic treaty approved by majority vote at a conference convened under article XII of the treaty would need to be ratified by all Antarctic treaty consultative parties in order for it to enter into force. We do not, therefore, believe that majority voting at such a conference is likely to have a crucial effect on the future of the treaty.