§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress made towards obtaining a Europewide agreement on the confiscation of the assets of convicted drug traffickers.
§ Mr. MellorWithin the Council of Europe Pompidou Group proposals have been drawn up for a range of measures relating to the tracing, freezing and confiscation of the proceeds of drug trafficking which might be included in a multilateral agreement among European states. Ministers of the group of their meeting on 20–21 January decided that, while the group should continue to examine such problems as the enforcement in one country24W of court orders made in another, they would press for action within the United Nations towards a worldwide convention which would include provisions in this field.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on progress made towards obtaining a Europewide agreement to stop and search ships suspected of carrying drugs;
(2) if he will make a statement on progress made towards obtaining a Europewide agreement that any one country may stop and search ships suspected of carrying drugs without the consent of the flag state.
§ Mr. MellorSubstantial progress has been made within the Council of Europe's Pompidou Group on the preparation of a convention setting out the principles of legal co-operation in this area. Some work has also been done on the technical and operational measures which might be considered by future contracting parties for inclusion in bilateral agreements.
The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs will be examining next month a draft worldwide convention on drug trafficking which contains provisions aimed at the suppression of illicit traffic by sea.