HC Deb 08 December 1983 vol 50 cc458-9
12. Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further discussions he had, on his recent visit to the United States of America, concerning the alignment of policy regarding the implementation of the extradition agreement between the two countries.

Mr. Prior

There was no need for such discussions since there is no difference of policy on extradition between this Government and the United States Administration. We have received every assistance from the United States in instituting extradition proceedings.

Mr. Adley

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, but is not the problem really the interpretation of what constitutes a political offence in many United States courts? Does he agree that some of the decisions that have been made appear to have had more to do with the political prejudices of the courts than with an attempt to find an honest answer to the proper interpretation of the extradition laws? Is there anything further that my right hon. Friend and his colleagues can do to try to remove that exacerbation?

Mr. Prior

As I think my hon. Friend knows, legislation is currently before Congress that is intended to limit the courts' discretion to refuse extradition where persons claim that their offences are political. I think that that goes to the root of the problem, and we hope that the legislation will be successful.