§ Mr. Martin BellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell) of 24 November 1997, Official Report, columns398–99, on the Ottawa Convention, when he plans to introduce the legislation necessary for the ratification of the Convention. [19323]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe attach great importance to the Ottawa Convention, signed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development on 3 December. We intend to ratify it as soon as possible. The timing of the legislation necessary for ratification will depend on our legislative programme. We intend to introduce the legislation as soon as the parliamentary timetable allows.