§ 7. Mr. ClellandTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent meeting of Antarctic treaty parties in Madrid.
§ 32. Mr. Robert B. JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Madrid conference on the future of Antarctica.
§ Mr. Garel-JonesI refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 10 May to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, South-East (Mr. Paice) in which he stated that the Government warmly welcome the outcome of the Madrid meeting and hope that the draft protocol tabled there will provide the basis for comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment.
505WFurther, the Prime Minister indicated that of particular importance are the provisions for a ban on mineral activity for 50 years, and mechanisms for review of the ban after 50 years, or before if everyone agrees.
The results of these provisions would be that there can never be mining in Antarctica unless all the present consultative parties agree.