§ Mr. GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of national and international law dealing with crimes on board aircraft flying through international air space; [15061]
(2) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of national and international law dealing with crimes on board ships in international waters. [15060]
§ Mr. MacleanI have been asked to reply.
Concern has recently been expressed that in some circumstances aircrew and passengers may be left without effective legal protection where offences are committed on board foreign-registered aircraft outside United Kingdom air space which subsequently land in this country. We are currently considering whether the problems which have been identified can be overcome, and we expect to discuss the matter shortly with the Board of Airline Representatives of the UK.
Similar concern has not, however, been raised in relation to offences committed on board ships in international waters, and the Government have not been given reason to believe that the law in this area is inadequate. UK courts have jurisdiction over offences committed on board all British ships in international 225W waters, and also over offences committed by British passengers on foreign ships.