§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (Mr. David Lammy)On 10 October 2003, the UK ratified protocol 13 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms banning the death penalty in all circumstances. The ratification will apply at present only to the metropolitan area of the United Kingdom. Ratification will be extended to the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories at a later date. We shall in due course seek parliamentary approval pursuant to section 1(4) of the Human Rights Act 1998 to add protocol 13 to the list of scheduled convention rights.