Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of Argentinian activity in Antarctica on (a) the environment, (b) British interests and (c) international interests.

The Antarctic Treaty preserves Antarctica as a place of peace and science and ensures international cooperation. The Treaty requires Parties to share advance notice of their plans in Antarctica and all activities are subject to environmental impact assessments. The UK actively scrutinises plans to ensure compliance with the Treaty's robust environmental principles as well as the prohibition on military training and the establishment of military bases. The UK has no doubt about its sovereignty over the British Antarctic Territory, although the Treaty effectively places in abeyance all sovereignty claims and is committed to maintaining a permanent presence on the continent, allowing us to conduct world-leading science and preserve British heritage.