Falkland Islands (Hansard, 16 February 1993)

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the Government are giving to the Falkland Islands Government, GECO-PRAKLA and Spectrum to explore and survey for hydrocarbons in the waters around the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs approved116W the issue of licences to both companies to enable them to carry out seismic surveys in the Falkland Islands designated area. Surveying has begun.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in theOfficial Report the statement made by the Governor of the Falkland Islands to the executive council on 23 December 1992, with regard to seismic licences; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
Meetings of the Falklands executive council are confidential.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what he has done to counter the claims made by the Argentine Government over waters currently the subject of seismic licences held by GECO-PRAKLA and Spectrum to survey for hydrocarbons, since the granting of those licences.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
The Argentines are well aware of our position regarding the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands and their surrounding maritime areas. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. and noble Friend the Baroness Chalker of Wallasey in another place regarding our sovereignty of the Falkland IslandsSovereignty is not for negotiation. I cannot underline that too strongly".—[Official Report, House of Lords, 1 February 1993; Vol. 542, c. 8–9.]

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will issue a letter of comfort on behalf of the British Government to enable the oil industry to further explore for hydrocarbons in the waters around the Falkland Islands.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) on 10 February 1993,Official Report, column 681.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the Argentine Government, during his last visit to the Argentine, in respect of(a) the Falkland Islands continental shelf, (b) the exploration for hydrocarbons in the waters of the Falkland Islands and (c) the entry of the Argentine into the squid licensing market in waters around the Falkland Islands.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
During the visit of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to Argentina in January, he made clear to Foreign Minister di Tella our concerns about the potential over-fishing of the vulnerable illex squid stock as a result of extra fishing effort in Argentine waters and agreed with Dr. di Tella that we should work to achieve a long-term fisheries agreement. He also took the opportunity to update Dr. di Tella on the seismic surveying in the Falklands designated area. He gave no undertaking that oil exploitation can only go ahead after prior agreement with Argentina. Dr. di Tella understands this position fully.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the effect of Argentina's entry into the squid licensing market on squid stocks in waters around the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Garel-Jones
Increased fishing of illex squid in Argentine waters this season may put extra pressure on the vulnerable illex squid stock. The agreement we reached with Argentina in December whereby they will issue 45 permits in response to applications for more than twice that number will mean that the risk is considerably less than it would otherwise have been.