Britain to claim a million square km of Antarctica

The foreign office spokeswoman said Britain had lodged one joint claim with France, Spain and Ireland for extended territorial rights in the Bay of Biscay, and hoped to agree joint submissions for other regions too.

The claims are based on extending existing territorial rights beyond current 200 mile limits.

"We are in discussions with Iceland, Ireland and Denmark over the Hatton-Rockall area," she said. "If different coastal states submit claims and there is a territorial dispute, the U.N. will simply park those claims and won't look them at all until any dispute has been resolved. So it is of benefit to all states concerned to submit joint claims."