§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the jurisdiction of the courts to enable them to deal with offences committed outside the territory of the United Kingdom by United Kingdom nationals. [13625]
§ Mr. HowardWith some exceptions, the jurisdiction of courts throughout the United Kingdom is territorially based. There are long-standing arguments of principle and of practicality which support this approach.
It is right, however, that we should, from time to time, examine whether those arguments remain valid in the light of changing circumstances. With the agreement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, I have established an inter-departmental review to look at the implications for both policy and procedure of any change to the current position on jurisdiction over offences committed by United Kingdom nationals overseas throughout the United Kingdom.
The review is under way and is expected to take four or five months to complete.