HC Deb 16 March 1998 vol 308 cc473-4W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what expenditure is undertaken by the British Government or agencies on its behalf of the monitoring of tourism and fishing within the area covered by the Antarctic Environmental Protocol. [34304]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

Details of tourist and fishing vessels within the Antarctic Treaty Area are recorded by the British Antarctic Survey and the Royal Navy, as appropriate whilst undertaking their other tasks. No separately identifiable expenditure relates to this activity.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evaluation of reports by the British Antarctic Survey is undertaken by his Department; and how these reports are made available to signatory countries to the Antarctic Environmental Protocol. [34305]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

Comprehensive reports on the operations of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are submitted and evaluated as required by the permitting provisions of the Antarctic Act 1994. In addition, the annual Report of BAS and the UK's annual Exchange of Information required by the Antarctic Treaty are provided to all Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties, and made publicly available.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the Secretariat proposed in the Antarctic Environmental Protocol to be established; and where it will be sited. [34303]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 26 November 1997,Official Report, column 547, and on 21 January 1998, Official Report, column 541. There have been no new developments.

Although not formally on the agenda, it is likely that the Secretariat will be discussed in the margins of the forthcoming Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Tromso, Norway, in May.