§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the bilateral treaties between the UK and the US(a) are still in effect and (b) were ratified in the last 30 years. [96301]
§ Mr. BattleI refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 20 July 1999,Official Report, column 501. That answer refers to the number of US-UK bilateral treaties which, having entered into force, were sent to the Public Record Office for permanent preservation. However, some of these bilateral treaties may no longer be in effect, having been overtaken by new treaties. Officials are now conducting a search to establish 128W precisely how many treaties are still in effect, and which of those treaties were ratified in the last 30 years. I will inform the hon. Member as soon as I have the necessary information.