In response to the simple question Defra have confirmed last week that: ‘The UK has not withdrawn from the London Convention. We are aware of calls for us to do so. This will be an issue for the new Government to consider.’

So, I must apologise for the news item I ran some weeks ago if I gave this impression. It was based on two articles one still available in the Telegraph speculating that notice to quit the London Convention would be triggered at the same time as the Article 50 letter. This didn’t happen and it seems likely that this issue will become part of the wider negotiations over Brexit.

This is clearly on the radar of the European partners as the work done by Denmark highlights.