HC Deb 26 June 1991 vol 193 cc497-8W
38. Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether international agreement has been reached on the future of Antarctica.

Mr. Garel-Jones

The third session of the special consultative meeting of Antarctic treaty parties took place in Madrid from 17–23 June.

The parties reached agreement on much of the final text of an environmental protocol to the Antarctic treaty, including annexes on marine pollution, waste disposal, environmental impact assessment and conservation of wildlife.

However, the United States has requested more time to consider the amendment procedure for the mining ban. and so a further meeting will be held before October, at which we hope that the protocol will be adopted.