§ Mr. Simsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects the United Kingdom and Spain will sign an extradition treaty.
§ Mr. BrittanA new extradition treaty was signed in London earlier today. I and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs signed for the United Kingdom.
The treaty represents a significant achievement for both Spain and the United Kingdom, and I welcome the cooperation which the Spanish authorities have shown throughout the negotiations. It is clearly wrong that those accused or convicted of serious offences should be able to evade justice merely because of the absence of an extradition arrangement. My officials and the Director of Public Prosecutions (who will represent the Government of Spain in extradition proceedings) will give the Spanish authorities every assistance in making the new treaty work.
The treaty will be presented to Parliament in due course.