Lord Morrisasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer given on 14th June [HC Deb, col. 401], whether they are now prepared to vote for the resolution and sign the agreement relating to the implementation of Park XI of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10th December 1982, and thereafter to accede to that convention.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)We will vote for the resolution and, should it be adopted by the UN General Assembly, sign the agreement. We intend to ratify the agreement and accede to the UN Law of the Sea Convention in due course and once the necessary procedures are complete. The Government's objections to Part XI of the convention have been satisfactorily addressed in the new agreement. The remainder of the convention is generally helpful to UK interests.