§ Mr. Anthony Grantasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is the state of the procedure for ratification of those Council of Europe agreements which the Government have signed as at 31 December 1976, but which have not yet been ratified;
(2) what agreements concluded in the Council of Europe framework have not yet been signed by the Government and for what reason.
§ Dr. OwenThe information requested is not immediately available since the matter requires consultation with other Departments. As soon as I have the information, I shall circulate it in theOfficial Report.
§ Mr. Anthony Grantasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what criteria the Government base their decision to sign an agreement of the Council of Europe or to submit it for ratification.
§ Dr. OwenCouncil of Europe agreements are normally signed or ratified when this is in accordance with Government policy and in the national interest. It is, of course, necessary for the terms of such agreements to be consistent with existing United Kingdom law since Her Majesty's Government will not ratify any international agreement unless the United Kingdom is in a position to fulfil its obligations under that agreement.
§ Mr. Anthony Grantasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the agreements concluded in the Council of Europe framework which the Government are planning to sign or ratify during the present session.
§ Dr. OwenIt is the present intention that the European convention on state immunity should be ratified this spring and that the European conventions for the protection of animals during international transport and for the protection 369W of animals for slaughter should be signed when they are opened for signature on 10 May. It is possible that others may be signed or ratified as well.
§ Mr. Anthony Grantasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is his policy that ratification of Council of Europe agreements should depend on the fact that other States have signed or ratified them or contemplate doing so.
§ Dr. OwenNo, this is not Government policy. In certain cases however the state of ratification of an agreement and the intentions of other Governments with regard to its ratification may be factors to be taken into account.