HC Deb 24 July 1991 vol 195 cc634-5W
26. Mr Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in securing international agreement on protecting the environment in Antarctica.

Mr. Dickens

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in securing international agreement on protecting the environment in Antarctica.

Mr. Garel-Jones

The third session of the XIth special consultative meeting of Antartica treaty parties ended in Madrid on 23 June, with general acceptance of the text of an environmental protocol to the Antarctic treaty and of four annexes dealing with marine pollution, waste disposal, conservation of wildlife and environmental impact assessment.

The way is now clear for the parties to hold a final session in Madrid, before October, to sign the Final Act of the special consultative meeting and to open the protocol for signature. We warmly welcome this outcome and look forward to increased environmental protection in Antarctica.

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