§ Sir Donald ThompsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he expects to ratify the Council of Europe framework convention for the protection of national minorities; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make a statement about the preparation of a draft protocol to the European convention of human rights concerning the protection of the rights of minorities in the cultural field.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe Council of Europe summit in October 1993 called for the drawing up of a framework convention for the protection of national minorities, together with a draft additional protocol
complementing the European Convention on Human Rights in the cultural field by provisions guaranteeing individual rights, in particular for persons belonging to national minorities".The summit gave work on the framework convention the higher priority. The convention was drawn up during 1994 and opened for signature on 1 February 1995, when 21 states including the United Kingdom signed. We intend to ratify the convention in due course.
The United Kingdom was fully involved in the drawing up of the convention, and is similarly engaged in the work which is in progress on the proposed additional protocol.