§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the Preparatory Committee of the United Nations General Assembly on the establishment of an International Criminal Court, indicating whether Her Majesty's Government will provide financial support to help create such an institution. [25525]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe December 1997 session of the Preparatory Committee made good progress on negotiating a Statute for the International Criminal Court. However, many issues have yet to be resolved. At the next session in March and at the Diplomatic Conference in June-July we will work actively to advance the negotiations so that a Treaty can be signed at the end of the Conference. Through the EU we have contributed funds to assist Governments of Least Developed Countries to participate in the Conference.