§ Mr. Simsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to introduce legislation to amend the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967 to reflect the changes in the scheme for the rendition of fugitive offenders within the Commonwealth agreed by Commonwealth Law Ministers in Colombo in February.
§ Mr. BrittanThe revised Commonwealth scheme was agreed by Law Ministers on the basis of recommendations put forward by a special conference held at Marlborough House in November 1982. A number of the amendments bring the scheme into line with the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967 or with current United Kingdom practice; others reflect recent developments in international practice. I would propose to consider the revised scheme in parallel with the recommendations of the working party on the law and practice of extradition before deciding on the need for legislation, so that, where necessary, law and practice in the two areas may be kept in step. Copies of the revised scheme have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.