HC Deb 11 May 1966 vol 728 cc394-5
34. Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

asked the Minister of Aviation when he will ratify The Hague Protocol to the Warsaw Convention.

Mr. Snow

Her Majesty's Government hope to do this very soon.

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that nine months ago the former Parliamentary Secretary wrote to me: The time has clearly come"— [HON. MEMBERS: "Reading."] I am reading a quotation.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member must not read. He must tell us.

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

The time has clearly come when, one way or another, we should go ahead and ratify the Protocol. That was nine months ago. When will the Government take action?

Mr. Snow

I shall as soon as possible, as soon as the necessary preparations have been made, invite the Foreign Office to deposit the instrument of ratification. The Protocol will come into effect for us three months after that has been done.

Mr. Ronald Bell

Is there not a risk that the long delay which, for various reasons, has elapsed between the passing by Parliament of the enabling Act and ratification may have resulted in The Hague Protocol in respect of compensation for personal injury being already somewhat out-of-date? Will the hon. Gentleman consider this?

Mr. Snow

There are extremes of thought about the limitations imposed or proposed under the Protocol. We think we have achieved the best solution we can. It has not been an easy matter. We are not the only parties to it.