Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the goals of the UK are, as an Arctic Council observer state, for the Canadian chairmanship of the Arctic Council from 2013 to 2015.

The Government’s aim for the Arctic is to work towards a region that is safe and secure; well governed in conjunction with indigenous peoples and in line with international law; where policies are developed on the basis of sound science with full regard to the environment; and where only responsible development takes place. The UK supports the Canadian priorities for its Chairmanship of the Arctic Council, particularly around strengthening the Arctic Council; safe Arctic shipping; and responsible resource development, all of which are in line with the Government’s full Arctic policy as outlined in its Arctic Policy Framework: Adapting To Change, published in October 2013.