§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which countries have ratified the Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons; from how many of these countries British prisoners will become eligible for transfer to the United Kingdom on 1 August; and when prisoners in the other signatory countries will become eligible for such a transfer.
§ Mr. MellorThe convention has been ratified by Sweden, France, Spain, the USA, the United Kingdom and Canada. The transfer of British prisoners under the convention will become possible from Sweden, France, Spain and the USA on 1 August and from Canada on 1 September. The transfer of British prisoners under the convention from other signatory countries will be possible when the convention is in force for those countries, that is from the first day of the month following the expiry of a period of three months after the date of their ratification.