Law of the Sea Convention

HC Deb 23 July 1996 vol 282 cc185-6W

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer from the Minister for Small Business, Industry and Energy of 15 July,Official Report, columns 360–61, if he will set out the considerations as a result of which the United Kingdom has not yet ratified the UN law of the sea convention of 1982; and when the United Kingdom ratification is expected to take place. [38862]

Sir Nicholas Bonsor

It is the Government's intention that the United Kingdom will accede to the United Nations convention on the law of the sea in due course. In the light of a number of continuing uncertainties in the international situation with regard to fisheries issues, the Government have concluded that now is not an appropriate time to accede to the convention. The timing of accession remains under review and Parliament will be informed as soon as the Government have taken a decision.