Extradition Arrangements (Hansard, 1 July 1986)

Lord Campbell of Croy
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows: To ask Her Majesty's Government with how many countries they would like to improve present agreements on extradition, or to conclude such arrangements for the first time.

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Glenarthur)
My Lords, the Government's priority is to improve our extradition arrangements with those countries with which we have regular extradition traffic. We have published proposals for the reform of our extradition law that would bring us closer to the practices followed by our European partners and enable us to accede to the European Convention on Extradition. In the case of those countries with which we have no extradition treaty and potentially little extradition traffic, we propose to adopt new powers to extradite on an ad hoc basis, as necessary. We have no present plans for entering into new bilateral agreements.

Lord Campbell of Croy
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his reply. Will he confirm that today is the day when the new extradition treaty with Spain enters into force? Will the Government act quickly to bring to an end the haven that exists there for Britons who are wanted for trial for serious crimes? As regards another country, is my noble friend aware that there is much satisfaction in Britain that the United States Congress is now more willing to sanction extradition where persons are accused of terrorism and there is a prima facie case?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend. The new treaty with Spain comes into force today and replaces the former treaty that the Spanish denounced in 1978. We look forward to working closely with Spain to make a success of the new treaty in the way that my noble friend hopes. As for the United States supplementary treaty, again we are pleased that that treaty has obtained the support of a substantial majority in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The treaty represents an important advance in ensuring that those who have committed crimes of violence cannot evade justice by claiming that their crimes were political.

§ Lord Mishcon
My Lords, in view of the grave concern that there has been in the past that difficulties 756 of extradition have interfered with prosecutions for serious fraud and drug offences, may I ask whether the Government are experiencing difficulties in that connection now? If they are, is it so wise to give up the idea of bilateral agreements in certain cases?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, the Extradition Act 1870 certainly does not meet modern conditions. The huge expansion in recent years in international crime, such as drug trafficking, fraud and terrorism, has presented new challenges that our extradition arrange-ments must meet. Hence the need for the changes. So far as concerns new bilateral agreements, as I said in my original Answer, we do not have plans to enter into any new agreements, but I am sure that should any particular change be needed in the light of the legislation that it is to be hoped will follow, that view will be taken into account.

Lord Campbell of Croy
My Lords, can my noble friend give the House any information about when there are likely to be further developments following the White Paper on criminal justice to which he referred?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, we published a White Paper and the hope is for legislation at the earliest suitable point. I cannot of course anticipate the Queen's Speech.