§ 1. Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now prepared to ratify the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, in view of the fact that the United Kingdom's delegation to the Sixth Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations Organisation sponsored a resolution inviting States to become parties to that Convention.
§ The Minister of State (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd)The text of the Convention is at present being studied by Her Majesty's Government and by the Governments of overseas territories for the conduct of whose international relations Her Majesty's Government are responsible. Subject to certain reservations as provided for in Article 42, Her Majesty's Government hope to be in a position to submit an Instrument of Ratification to Parliament within a few months.
§ Mr. JannerWould the right hon. and learned Gentleman try and expedite the 910 matter a little bit more than that, particularly in view of the fact that four major countries have already intimated their intention to ratify this very important Convention, that a large number of other countries will follow our example, and because we ourselves have sponsored this particular Convention?
§ Mr. LloydI am aware of the matters to which the hon. Gentleman has referred. It is our desire that ratification should take place as quickly as possible, but there are a number of complicated matters which still have to be considered.