§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the European convention on the suppression of terrorism was approved by the Committee of Ministers' deputies; when it will be signed and come into effect; and what consultations there have been with the Government of the Irish Republic.
§ Dr. OwenThe convention was adopted by the Committee of Foreign Ministers of the Council of Europe meeting in Strasbourg at Deputy level on 10th November 1976. It will be opened for signature on 27th January 1977 during the 59th Session of the Committee of Foreign Ministers. Her Majesty's Government intend to sign the Convention on that day and subsequently to seek parliamentary approval for changes in our law to enable us to ratify it without reservation. The convention will enter into force three months after it has been ratified by three member States.
The preparation of the Convention involved detailed consultations among all member States of the Council of Europe at meetings of the European Ministers of Justice, the European Committee on Crime Problems, and the Committee of Foreign Ministers' Deputies. In all of these discussions Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Irish Republic played an active part.