§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to place before Parliament proposals for approval of the draft conventions on(i) driver disqualification and (ii) mutual assistance on criminal matters; and what steps have been taken to consult other bodies or interests concerned in respect of each convention 0[15572]
§ Ms QuinIt is not possible to give an estimate of when negotiations on the draft Convention on driving disqualifications will be completed, as a number of issues remain to be resolved. Home Office and Department of Transport officials have been collaborating in work on the draft Convention, which will be deposited for scrutiny shortly.
691WUnder the European Union Action Plan to combat organised crime, approved by the Amsterdam Council, the target date for completion of the draft Convention on mutual legal assistance is not later than mid-1998. The Home Office regularly consults other departments and agencies on the draft Convention. The text was deposited for scrutiny on 3 October 1996. A substantially revised and expanded version was sent to the scrutiny committees on 24 July this year and a further updated text was sent to them on 28 October.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 July 1997,Official Report, columns 74–6, concerning the operation of a convention concerning corruption and officials of the European Union and member states; and when and by what means parliamentary approval was given to the convention. [15574]
§ Ms QuinThe Convention was agreed by the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 26 May 1997. It has not yet been ratified by any member state.
Prior to ratification by the United Kingdom, the Convention will be laid before Parliament for at least 21 sitting days in accordance with the Ponsonby Rule. I regret that the answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 1 July 1997, Official Report, columns 74–6, incorrectly stated that no further Parliamentary proceedings are required in order to ratify the Convention. I apologise for that error.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 July 1997,Official Report, columns 74–6, in respect of the Fraud Convention of the European Community, when he expects to lay an Order under Section 78(3) of the Criminal Justice Act 1993 before each House of Parliament; and what subsequent procedure it will be subject to. [15568]
§ Ms QuinWe hope to lay an Order by the middle of 1998. This will put the United Kingdom in a position to ratify the Convention. At that point, the Convention will be laid before Parliament in accordance with the normal procedure.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 July 1997,Official Report, columns 74–6, when the Europol Convention acquired legal status in the United Kingdom; on what date the subsequent protocol giving optional powers to the European Court was placed (a) before the Government and (b) approved by Parliament; and where the text of the Protocol is publicly available. [15571]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Europol Convention was signed in July 1995 and ratified by the United Kingdom on 10 December 1996. It will enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiry of a three month period after the last member state has ratified it.
The Protocol to the Convention concerning the Court of Justice of the European Communities was signed in July 1996, laid before Parliament on 11 November 1996 and ratified on 10 December 1996. The text of the Protocol was published as Command Paper Number 3465.