§ 26. Sir B. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now introduce legislation to enable Her Majesty's Government to accede to the Genocide Convention.
§ Mr. TaverneI regret that I cannot at present say how soon this will be possible.
§ Sir B. JannerThat is a very disappointing Answer. Is not my hon. Friend aware that a definite statement and undertaking has been given regarding the Genocide Convention and that it is tremendously important, not only from our point of view but from the point of view of the general situation throughout the world? Will he please give it his immediate attention?
§ Mr. TaverneI accept that it is highly desirable to have legislation on this subject, but on the question of legislative time available I cannot add to the Answer I have already given.
§ Mr. HoggMay I press the hon. and learned Gentleman about this? This is the seventh case already today in which the Government have professed themselves unable to find Parliamentary time for relatively uncontroversial legislation. Why cannot the Home Secretary exercise some influence on his colleagues?
§ Mr. TaverneI recognise the right hon. and learned Gentleman's great concern, which I share, with Home Office matters, but it remains true that, if all the various suggestions which have been made were to be followed up, the time of the House would be monopolised by Home Office legislation.