§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the text of the convention concerning the establiment of a European police office, signed in Brussels on 26 July 1995, Cm 3050, was presented to Parliament by Her Majesty's Government; what notification of the terms of the convention was given to Select Committees of either House; and when he expects to lay the convention before Parliament for ratification. [8255]
§ Mr. Howard[holding answer II January 1996]: The Europol convention was published, and laid before Parliament, on 8 December 1995.
An explanatory note on the then draft convention was submitted on 22 February 1994. Supplementary explanatory notes, with revised drafts of the convention, were provided on 17 November 1994 and 31 May 1995. The final text of the convention, together with an accompanying explanatory note, was forwarded on 28 July last year.
We expect to ratify the convention in the near future.