§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in negotiating bilateral prisoner transfer treaties with Thailand, Peru and other countries which are unwilling to sign the Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons:
§ Mr. RentonDraft agreements have been exchanged with the Governments of Thailand and Peru, the terms of which are now the subject of negotiation. The United Kingdom has no plans for the moment to enter into bilateral arrangements for the transfer of prisoners with any other state, but when the Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons comes into force for the United Kingdom on 1 August, transfers will be possible with a number of other countries.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British prisoners serving sentences abroad on the most recent convenient date would be eligible for transfer to the United Kingdom under the Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons; and in which countries they are imprisoned.
§ Mr. RentonThe Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons will come into force for the United Kingdom on 1 August and from that date transfers will be possible with France, Spain, Sweden and the United States of America and from 1 September with Canada.
As at 4 July, the numbers of prisoners who could be considered for transfer to the United Kingdom are as follows:
Numbers France 49 Spain 35 Sweden 15 United States of America 35 Canada 1