Antarctic Treaty (Hansard, 19 December 1995)

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with interested parties on the future of the Antarctic treaty and the siting of the secretariat; and if he will make a statement. [6927]

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
Questions on the Antarctic treaty and the location of the secretariat are raised periodically as part of our regular meetings with other Antarctic treaty parties.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with signatories to the Antarctic treaty on(a) the progress of ratification and (b) the siting and operation of the secretariat. [6829]

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
No recent discussions have taken place on ratification of the Antarctic treaty. The treaty was ratified on 23 June 1961. The United Kingdom ratified the environmental protocol to the Antarctic treaty on 25 April 1995.
The question of the location and operation of the Antarctic treaty secretariat is raised periodically as part of our regular meetings with other Antarctic treaty parties.