§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting on 27 and 28 May, in respect of the draft Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in so far as this relates to the interception of communications, indicating what position the Government advocated. [86435]
§ Mr. StrawNo agreement was reached at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 27 and 28 May on the interception of communications provisions in the draft Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. The Council agreed that the outstanding issues should be referred to the Article 36 Committee. The Government's position remains as set out in my reply given to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) on 23 March 1999,Official Report, column 176.