§ 31. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the ratification of the Lome Convention.
§ Mr. HattersleyThe Convention will enter into force following the deposit of instruments of ratification by the member States of the EEC and by two-thirds of the African, Caribbean and Pacific signatory countries together with the Act of Notification of the conclusion of the Convention by the Community. I understand that the required number of ACP countries has now been reached and that, of the member States, Denmark and Luxembourg have completed their ratification278W processes. The United Kingdom hopes to do so by the end of the year. It is not possible to give a firm date by which the necessary processes in the other member States and in the Community will have been completed.