§ 3.15 p.m.
THE EARL OF WOOLTONMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
[The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the dissatisfaction expressed on all sides of the House and in the Press at the reply given on behalf of Her Majesty's Government to the questions addressed to them on 26th February concerning the delay in ratifying the 1949 Geneva Conventions, they will take an early opportunity to introduce into the House legislation to implement our honourable international undertakings to ratify these Conventions.]
§ THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION (VISCOUNT HAILSHAM)My Lords, the Answer is, Yes. The Government have now decided to introduce legislation on this subject during the present Session of Parliament.
THE EARL OF WOOLTONMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Viscount for that very satisfactory reply, which will obviously meet with satisfaction in all parts of the House and, I think, in the country.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHI should like to associate myself with the noble Earl's comments. I am much obliged to him for the steps he has taken in the matter, because we have been a little unhappy, in that, although we have followed a certain practice in this country, we felt that we ought not to be ashamed of our practice in this matter. So long as the Conventions are not ratified, there may have been some dangers arising to our own men who have been taken prisoner.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, may I, too, on behalf of noble Lords on these Benches, express my gratitude to the noble Viscount for the reply he has given, which will, I think, satisfy a great many people who are very worried about this matter.
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMMy Lords, I am delighted to know that the decision taken by Her Majesty's Government has met with such universal satisfaction.