§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in relation to United Kingdom ratification of the Hague convention on succession.
Mr. John M. TaylorIn March 1990, following the opening of the Hague convention on succession for signature in 1988, the Government issued a consultation paper to obtain views as to whether the United Kingdom should, with a view to ratification, amend its rules as to which law governs succession to a deceased person's estate to bring them into line with the rules in the convention. The response did not indicate a large degree of support for United Kingdom ratification and there was some opposition. The Government therefore decided not to proceed further at present, but the matter is being kept under review. So far only two other member states have signed the convention and there have been no ratifications.