Earl of Lonsdale v. Attorney-General and Another

Abstract

Sea — Territorial sea — Status — United Kingdom territorial sea and sea bed — Whether incorporated into the United Kingdom — Whether part of Great Britain for purposes of national legislation regarding petroleum rights — Oil and natural gas deposits — Rights in respect of — Effect of grant of mine and mineral rights — Whether rights revested in Crown by subsequent legislation regarding petroleum — Petroleum (Production) Act 1934 — Territorial Waters Order in Council 1964

Sea — Continental Shelf — Mineral deposits in sea bed — Whether vested in Crown — Effect of Continental Shelf Act 1964 — Purpose of Act to give effect in municipal law to Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf, 1958

Relationship of international law and municipal law — Treaties — Geneva Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, 1958 — Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf, 1958 — Effect in municipal law — Purpose of implementing legislation

Expropriation — National safeguards — Presumption that Parliament does not intend to expropriate without compensation — When rebutted — The law of England