§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government intend to ratify the United Nations convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.
§ Mr. RentonThe Government have decided to ratify this convention. Our ratification will be accompanied by various declarations and reservations. We do not envisage that it will be necessary to make changes to United Kingdom legislation to enable the United Kingdom to ratify. Before our instrument of ratification can be deposited, we have to consult the Dependent Territories, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man to ascertain whether they wish to be included in our ratification, and, if so, with what declarations and reservations. We are now150W doing this. I have arranged to have copies of our declarations and reservations placed in the Libraries of both Houses.