HC Deb 22 July 1996 vol 282 cc39-40W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to reach agreement with other signatory nations on the location of the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat; and if he will make a statement. [38198]

Sir Nicholas Bonsor

The United Kingdom is keen to see this issue resolved, but the Antarctic treaty consultative parties have yet to reach an agreement by consensus on the location of the Antarctic treaty secretariat.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Japan concerning their policy in respect of the Antarctic treaty; and if he will make a statement. [38102]

Sir Nicholas Bonsor

At the recent annual meeting of the Antarctic treaty consultative parties in Utrecht, the United Kingdom urged Japan and the other three states that have not yet ratified the environmental protocol to do so at the earliest opportunity. Officials have also been in correspondence with their Japanese counterparts on a range of detailed technical issues relating to the protocol.

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