Antarctic (Hansard, 20 July 2001)

§ Shona McIsaac
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decision there has been on the location of the proposed Antarctic Treaty Secretariat. [6452]

§ Jeremy Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will announce the establishment of a Secretariat for the Antarctic Environmental Protocol; and if he will make a statement. [5910]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and commonwealth Affairs confirmed to Dr. Adalberto Rodriquez Giarvarini, Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, during their talks in London on 17 July that, in response to commitments made by the Argentine Minister of Defence, Dr. Horacio Jaunarena, in Buenos Aires on 6 July, to strengthen the civilian scientific elements of Argentina's Antarctic programme, the UK would join a consensus on the location of the proposed Antarctic Treaty Secretariat. This was relayed to the recent meeting of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM XXIV) in St. Petersburg. The texts of the Argentine and UK Statements of 6 July and 17 July respectively have been deposited in the Library of the House.

§ Jeremy Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evaluation has been undertaken by his Department of the effects of tourism in the Antarctic. [5908]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
The UK remains in close contact with other Antarctic Treaty Parties and the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) to ensure adequate regulation of tourism activities, within the jurisdictional constraints peculiar to Antarctica. Under the Antarctic Act 1994 the UK requires tourist voyages undertaken by UK flagged vessels and tourist parties organised in the United Kingdom to obtain permits from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The FCO closely monitors compliance with the permit conditions. The UK is the sole government sponsor of the most comprehensive monitoring programme in the Antarctic Peninsula area aimed at determining what impact tourism might have on environmental and wildlife values.