§ Mr. C. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the Supplementary Convention between the member States of Euratom and with the participation of other members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development which was concluded on 31st January, 1963, Her Majesty's Government will now ratify the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Convention on third party liability in the field of nuclear energy as proposed in Council of Europe Resolution 233, adopted by the Assembly on 22nd September, 1962.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerAmending legislation will be needed before the United Kingdom can ratify the Conventions referred to by the hon. Gentleman, although many of their provisions are already covered by the Nuclear Installations (Licensing and Insurance) Act, 1959.
Following the conclusion in May, 1963, of the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, which covers the same subject but has worldwide rather than regional application, the signatories to the two earlier Conventions have prepared Additional Protocols of amendment in order to make the three Conventions compatible. These Additional Protocols were signed in Paris on 28th January last. Legislation to enable the United Kingdom to ratify the three Conventions is now being prepared.