§ 51. Mr. Parkerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Her Majesty's Government will now ratify the 1961 United Nations Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
§ Mr. George ThomsonHer Majesty's Government intend to ratify this Convention, as I have informed the House. An Order-in-Council to amend the British Protectorates, Protected States, and Protected Persons Order, 1949 must, however, first be made. I regret that the drafting of the Order has proved more complicated than was expected and there are still a number of technical difficulties to be solved. I would like to apologise to my hon. Friend that it has not proved practicable to complete this work as quickly as had been hoped when I replied to him on 8th March.