§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of Council Document 5202/98; and to which provisions his Department objects. [76299]
§ Kate HoeyThe United Kingdom Presidency consulted the European Parliament in January 1998 on the text in Council Document 5202/98 of the draft Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters between the member states of the European Union. Two of the Parliament's proposed amendments have been incorporated into the draft. The Convention has been further developed and negotiations are continuing. The most recent consolidated380W text is in Council Document 13144/98, which was submitted to the Select Committee on European Scrutiny last January with an Explanatory Memorandum giving details of the Government's negotiating position. Copies are in the Library. The Government attach importance to the Convention, but have concerns about the scope and detail of the provisions on interception of telecommunications.