HL Deb 14 December 1970 vol 313 cc1163-5
LORD JANNER

My Lords, I beg leave 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 they will propose the inclusion of hijacking offences amongst the crimes for which a person may be extradited.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD WINDLESHAM)

My Lord, the draft Convention on the Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft, which is now being considered by the Diplomatic Conference at The Hague, provides in its present form that contracting States shall treat hijacking as an extraditable offence both in existing and in future extradition treaties, and shall recognise for extradition purposes the jurisdiction of the state of registry of the aircraft and of every State in which the aircraft lands with (he hijacker on board. Her Majesty's Government strongly support the draft Convention and attach great importance to ensuring that, wherever possible, hijackers are brought to justice and punished for their crimes.

LORD JANNER

My Lords, may I thank the noble Lord for the reply which he has given?

VISCOUNT ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, will the noble Lord consider that, while it is most necessary to punish hijackers, it is also necessary that people should not be prevented from leaving States where they may be very seriously punished for purely political purposes, and, therefore, any political penalty which they may suffer from being sent back should also be considered?

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, this is a subject on which there is common agreement that there is a need for greater powers to deal with people who have hijacked aircraft, placing the safety of passengers at risk. One would feel that international action should be concerted, and it is for that reason that the Conference at The Hague is taking place at the present moment.

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, would the noble Lord say what point the proposed Convention has now reached?

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, the plenary session of the Conference starts to-day. The working groups have completed their work; they have reported, and the plenary session is now taking place.

VISCOUNT ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, would the noble Lord please answer the question I asked him: whether the fact will be taken into consideration that some of these people, if they are sent back, will suffer much heavier penalties for political reasons than they would for the mere hijacking?

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, that really arises out of what I said. The law is likely to be reviewed and changed when we have signed the Convention. The consequences of that Convention will then be presented to Parliament, and legislative changes will probably be necessary. The sort of question the noble Viscount has put will be relevant at that moment.

LORD JANNER

My Lords, when considering that particular question, will Her Majesty's Government take into consideration the fact that murderers and assassins are using the subterfuge that this is a political move; and will the noble Lord see to it that it will not become a move by which extradition is excluded?

LORD WINDLESHAM

Yes, my Lords; comments of that type must certainly be taken into account.