§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers he has to prosecute British subjects who procure child prostitutes in other countries. [28738]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 26 June 1995]: The Government deplore the sexual exploitation of children, wherever it may occur. Our own law against such abuse is rightly severe. However, our courts' jurisdiction is territorially based rather than nationality based, and we therefore have no power to prosecute British nationals who commit offences against children in other countries.
The United Kingdom is, however, willing to extradite its nationals to stand trial in the places where they are alleged to have offended, subject to the usual safeguards. We are also willing to provide legal assistance to foreign authorities who wish to prosecute British nationals, under the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990. In addition, we are currently considering ways in which it may be possible to improve liaison between our police and foreign enforcement agencies, and whether 576W there is any scope for further Government action to tackle the dreadful problem of child prostitution and sex tourism.