HC Deb 13 November 1997 vol 300 cc648-9W
Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 July,Official Report, columns 74–6, relating to two conventions of the European Community concerning extradition between its member states additional to those extant, by what means and on what dates each convention received parliamentary scrutiny; what consultation Ministers held with other bodies and persons affected by each convention; what notice was given to the public of the drafts of each convention; by what means the conventions will be ratified; when he expects to introduce legislation to amend the Extradition Act 1989; and what plans he has to publish explanatory memoranda prior to that date. [15566]

Mr. Michael

The right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard), the previous Home Secretary, wrote to the Chairmen of the Scrutiny Committees on 3 March 1995 about the Convention on Simplified Extradition Procedure, enclosing a copy of the draft Council Act, a copy of the draft Convention and an Explanatory Note. He wrote to the Chairmen of the Scrutiny Committees on 3 April 1996 about the Convention Relating to Extradition Between Member States of the European Union enclosing a copy of the draft Convention, the draft Council Act and an Explanatory Note. He wrote again to the Chairman of the Select Committee on the European Communities on 7 May 1996. A further letter was sent to the Chairman of Sub-Committee E, House of Lords, on 25 June 1996 in response to comments received by that Committee from Liberty, Justice and Fair Trials Abroad.

Government consultation was carried out at official level with interested Whitehall Departments. During the course of negotiations, European Union conventions remain confidential between member states. Each member state is required to complete its own internal procedures to provide for ratification. In the case of the United Kingdom, this will require primary legislation to amend the Extradition Act 1989. I am not in a position to announce when this legislation might be introduced.