Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding a bilateral agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland on mutual assistance in criminal matters. [22544]
§ Mr. MichaelThe United Kingdom has been concluding bilateral agreements with other countries since 1988 with the aim of enhancing co-operation in tracing, freezing and confiscating the proceeds of drug trafficking and other crimes. At the end of 1997, 37 such agreements had been concluded, of which 28 were in force. Negotiations on an agreement with the Republic of Ireland are underway following recent changes in legislation in the Republic.