Mr. Hammingasked the Attorney-General whether he will make a statement about the recent conference of Commonwealth Law Ministers held in London; and what was its cost to public funds.
§ The Attorney-GeneralWhen the Commonwealth Law Ministers met at Canberra last summer strong opinions were expressed in favour of holding periodical meetings of Commonwealth Law Ministers and it was suggested that the next might conveniently take place in London about Easter 1966.
Her Majesty's Government was glad to act on this suggestion and invitations were sent out accordingly. The Conference was attended by Law Ministers, Attorneys-General and others from twenty-two countries. The Conference opened at Marlborough House on Tuesday, 26th April, under the chairmanship of my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and ended on the following Tuesday, 3rd May. The Commonwealth Secretary-General provided the secretariat.
The subjects discussed included arrangements for the return of fugitive offenders, the reciprocal enforcement of maintenance agreements, and a proposed Legal Section of the Commonwealth secretariat.
My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor sponsored the Conference and the estimated cost to be borne on the Supreme Court Vote will be about £1,100, for 92W which a Supplementary Estimate will be presented in due course. Allied Services will cost about £10,000 in respect of Government Hospitality and about £300 in respect of miscellaneous services.
Her Majesty's Government welcomed this opportunity to promote legal comity in the Commonwealth and has no doubt that the Conference has served a very useful purpose.