§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the escalation of the crime of hijacking aircraft, they are now prepared to initiate international action for the refusal of air services to such countries as harbour the criminals concerned.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government strongly deplore all cases of hijacking and have played a leading part in securing international agreement on action to deter hijacking. However, as my noble friend Lord Ferrers explained on March 23, the Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organisation has voted decisively against further consideration of proposals on the lines advocated by the noble Lord.
LORD JANNERMy Lords, would the noble Baroness reconsider the matter? After all, if there are nations who are prepared to harbour criminals of this kind, and having regard to the very serious nature of the crimes committed, would it not be advisable to try to get international agreement that, whatever happens when these criminals are no longer in the plane, they should not be given asylum? This should apply wherever anyone is harbouring criminals of this nature.
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, the particular suggestion in the noble Lord's question was decisively rejected, as I have 1434 explained to the House. But we are a party to both The Hague and Montreal Conventions, and in both cases contracting States have the option either of extraditing the offender to another country that has jurisdiction to try him or of passing the case through its own authorities for public prosecution.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, can the noble Baroness say whether in our representations we have insisted that in our belief the penalties hitherto awarded have been inadequate, and that if and when actors in this sphere are caught the penalties should be of a much steeper kind than has been the case up to now?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, the question of penalties has not been discussed in the international field. We feel that they are best left to the jurisdiction of each individual country.