§ 7. Mr. Archerasked the Secretary of State For Foreign Affairs whether he has completed his study into the advisability of ratification by the United Kingdom Government of the United Nations Convention on Racial Discrimination, as indicated to the House on 28th February, 1966; and what conclusion he has reached.
§ Mrs. WhiteNo, Sir, not yet. As I informed the House on 17th June I hope to be in a position to announce a decision later in the year.
§ Mr. ArcherIn view of the fact that the Convention is intended to represent the standards accepted by all civilised people, may I ask my hon. Friend to describe in a little more detail some of the difficulties which are peculiar to this country?
§ Mrs. WhiteOne of the difficulties is that the United Kingdom has to ensure that the conditions not only in the metropolitan territory but also in the overseas territory are broadly in line with the instrument before it can be ratified. No State has yet ratified the Convention.