HL Deb 17 January 1990 vol 514 cc733-4WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have informed themselves of the Opinions issued by the US Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel on 21st June, which concluded that US law enforcement agents could seize fugitives from US justice overseas without obtaining the consent of the country involved and on 3rd November, that US military forces have the legal authority to arrest drug traffickers, terrorists and other fugitives overseas without the consent of the host country, whether they consider these official "opinions" compatible with international law and with British interests, and whether it is their view that any other government may claim such rights.

Earl Ferrers

Her Majesty's Government do not accept that any foreign country has the right or the need to excercise extra-territorial jurisdiction in the United Kingdom, since we are already taking firm steps to deal with the problems of drug trafficking, terrorism and other international crime. We understand that the Opinion to which the noble Lord refers is directed to circumstances in which normal arrangements for extradition do not apply, either because there is no effective system of law and order in the country concerned, or because of corruption.