HL Deb 23 June 1988 vol 498 cc1044-5WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress they can report concerning the prospects of an International Arctic Science Committee, referred to in the US-Soviet joint statement on the recent Summit.

The Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Lord Trefgarne)

Scientists and academics from the Arctic states met in Stockholm on 24th-26th March 1988 to discuss the organisation of an International Arctic Sciences Committee. We understand it was decided to form a working group to prepare for a further meeting. This group will meet in the Soviet Union at the end of the year to seek to finalise the proposal to establish such a committee and will begin to identify possible scientific projects for international co-ordination and co-operation in Arctic research.