Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of seabed mining in the territorial waters of the Falkland Islands on the local fishing industry.

As a self-governing Overseas Territory, responsibility for economic development, including any potential seabed mining, is a matter for the Falkland Islands Government, in accordance with all relevant laws. The UK Government supports the right of the Falkland Islanders to develop their natural resources for their own economic benefit. This is an integral part of their right of self-determination. The UK Government continues to work closely with the Falkland Islands Government in a wide range of areas, including offering access to UK expertise when requested.