Antarctica (Hansard, 29 February 1988)

§ Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy, in the current New Zealand discussions on the future of Antarctica, to give scientists a central role in future policy forming and decision taking in relation to Antarctica.

§ Mr. Eggar
The Antarctic treaty meeting in question was the most recent round of the negotiations aimed at establishing an Antarctic minerals regime. Within the treaty and the successful system of agreements which has developed from it, we and our treaty partners seek independent expert scientific advice (eg from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research) as part of the regular policy-formulation process. The minerals regime currently being negotiated would continue that practice, through the establishment of an advisory committee to ensure the availability of relevant scientific, and other, advice at all important stages.

§ Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for the assessment of environmental impact in Antarctica.

§ Mr. Eggar
At the XIVth Antarctic treaty consultative meeting (Rio de Janeiro, 5–16 October 1987) the United Kingdom tabled a recommendation reflecting work already done by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research and by the United Nations environment programme. This recommendation, which was adopted, sets out guidelines for carrying out environmental impact assessments in advance of any scientific and logistic activities likely to have a significant impact on the Antarctic environment. This is already the practice of the British Antarctic Survey.

§ Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to protect unique life forms in Antarctica.

§ Mr. Eggar
Protection of all Antarctic life forms is already provided for under the Antarctic treaty agreed measures for the conservation of Antarctic flora and fauna 1964, the convention for the conservation of antarctic seals 1972, and the convention for the conservation of antarctic 425W marine living resources 1980. Both conventions have been ratified by the United Kingdom, while effect was given to the agreed measures by the Antarctic Treaty Act 1967.

§ Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the need for tighter controls for the preservation of the ecosystem of Antarctica.

§ Mr. Eggar
Since the inception of the Antarctic treaty in 1959 the United Kingdom has been a prime mover in negotiating a progressive series of environmental protection measures for Antarctica. We continue to be guided by scientific advice as to any necessary precautionary measures concerning the preservation of the Antarctic ecosystem. We shall be taking full account of such advice in our preparations for this year's Antarctic living resources meetings.

§ Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of disturbance in Antarctica on the regulatory efect on the global climate.

§ Mr. Eggar
As part of the international programme of environmental research in Antarctica, scientists from the British Antarctic Survey and the Meteorological Office have been actively involved with other Antarctic treaty countries in experimental studies of the Antarctic ozone hole, most recently in September 1987. The results of their studies will be presented at an international meeting in Colorado in May.

§ Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for legal safeguards for mining in Antarctica.

§ Mr. Eggar
The Antarctic treaty 1959 makes no mention of minerals resources, but the consultative parties, including the United Kingdom, have recognised that unregulated minerals activity would be undesirable. We are consequently participating in the negotiation of an Antarctic minerals regime which would ensure that if minerals activity ever takes place it should do so within a legal framework of operational control and environmental protection.

§ Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the regulatory committee of 10 nations about the future of mining in Antarctica.

§ Mr. Eggar
No regulatory committee of this kind yet exists. Such bodies are envisaged as part of the future Antarctic minerals regime currently under negotiation by the Antarctic treaty consultative parties.