§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to the answer of 1 July,Official Report, columns 74–76, relating to the 57W convention concerning serving of legal and court documents in civil and commercial matters, when and by what means this convention was ratified; what changes are required in the Rules of Court; what consultation was undertaken by Ministers with affected bodies or persons prior to the ratification; and if he will make a statement concerning future steps he expects to take in respect of this convention.[15569]
§ Mr. HoonThe Convention was signed on 26 May 1997 but has not been ratified. Public consultation on the draft Convention and how it might be implemented was carried out in March and April 1997. We shall ratify the Convention once proposals for implementation are finalised. Until then it is not known what changes to Rules of Court might be required.