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Written Answers

Thursday, 13th June 1996.

Council of Europe Conventions and Legal Instruments Not Ratified by UK

Lord Finsberg asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish in the Official Report the information given in a letter of 23rd May from Baroness Chalker of Wallasey to Lord Finsberg, which was placed in the Library of the House.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey): Yes. The table detailing the conventions and other legal instruments of the Council of Europe which the United Kingdom has not ratified is below. Those conventions and other legal instruments marked with an asterisk indicate where current policy is not to sign.

Neither Signed nor Ratified

European Agreement on Regulations governing the Movement of Persons between Member States of the Council of Europe (1957)

European Convention on Compulsory Insurance against Civil Liability in Respect of Motor Vehicles (1959)

Agreement relating to Application of the European Convention on International Commercial Arbitration (1962)

*Protocol to the European Code of Social Security (1964)

*European Convention on the Supervision of Conditionally Sentenced or Conditionally Released Offenders (1964)

European Convention on the Punishment of Road Traffic Offences (1964)

European Convention providing a Uniform Law on Arbitration (1966)

European Convention on Establishment of Companies (1966)

European Convention on Foreign Money Liabilities (1967)

European Convention on Consular Functions (1967)

Protocol to the European Convention on Consular Functions concerning the Protection of Refugees (1967)

Protocol to the European Convention on Consular Functions relating to Consular Functions in respect of Civil Aircraft (1967)

*European Agreement on "Au Pair" Placement (1969)

*European Convention on the International Validity of Criminal Judgements (1970)

*European Convention on the Repatriation of Minors (1970)

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*European Convention on the Transfer of Proceedings in Criminal Matters (1972)

Additional Protocol to the European Convention on State Immunity (1972)

European Convention on the Place of Payment of Money Liabilities (1972)

*European Convention on the Calculation of Time-Limits (1972)

*European Convention on Social Security (1972)

*Supplementary Agreement to the European Convention on Social Security (1972)

European Convention on Civil Liability for Damage caused by Motor Vehicles (1973)

Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses (1973)

*European Convention on the non-Applicability of Statutory Limitation to Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes (1974)

Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Extradition (1975)

European Convention on the International Effects of Deprivation of the Right to Drive a Motor Vehicle (1976)

*European Convention on Products Liability in regard to Personal Injury and Death (1977)

*European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers (1977)

*European Convention on the Service Abroad of Documents relating to Administrative Matters (1977)

*Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Reduction of Cases of Multiple Nationality and Military Obligations in Cases of Multiple Nationality (1977)

*European Convention on the Obtaining Abroad of Information and Evidence in Administrative Matters (1978)

European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities (1980)

*Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the Abolition of the Death Penalty (1983)

Protocol No. 7 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1984)

*European Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property (1985)

European Charter of Local Self-Government (1985)

*European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals (1987)

*Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (1988)

*Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter (1988)

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*Arrangement for the Application of the European Agreement of 17th October 1980 concerning the Provision of Medical Care to Persons during Temporary Residence (1988)

European Convention on certain International Aspects of Bankruptcy (1990)

*European Convention on the General Equivalence of Periods of University Study (1990)

*European Code of Social Security (Revised) (1990)

*Protocol No. 9 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1990)

Protocol of Amendment to the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes (1992)

*European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (1992)

*Second Protocol amending the Convention on the Reduction of Cases of Multiple Nationality and Military Obligations in Cases of Multiple Nationality (1993)

*Convention on Civil Liability for Damage Resulting from Activities Dangerous to the Environment (1993)

European Convention relating to Questions on Copyright Law and Neighbouring Rights in the Framework of Transfrontier Broadcasting by Satellite (1994)

*Protocol to the European Convention on Social Security (1994)

*Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter providing for a System of Collective Complaints (1995)

Additional Protocol to the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities (1995)

European Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights (1996)

European Agreement relating to Persons Participating in Proceedings of the European Court of Human Rights (1996)

Sixth Protocol to the General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Council of Europe (1996)

*Revised European Social Charter (1996) Signed but not Ratified

Protocol No. 4 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, securing Certain Rights and Freedoms other than those included in the Convention and in Protocol No. 1 (1963)

Convention relating to Stops on Bearer Securities in International Circulation (1970)

Convention on the Establishment of a Scheme of Registration of Wills (1972)

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European Convention on the Control of the Acquisition and Possession of Firearms by individuals (1978)

European Convention for the Protection of Animals for Slaughter (1979)

European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes (1986)

Protocol amending the European Social Charter (1991)

European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (Revised) (1992)

Convention on the Participation of Foreigners in Public Life at Local Level (1992)

Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1993)

Protocol No. 2 to the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1993)

Agreement on Illicit Traffic by Sea, implementing Article 17 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1995)

Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (1995)

Transfer of Corpses: Council of Europe Agreement

Lord Finsberg asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is their intention to sign the 1973 Council of Europe agreement on the transfer of corpses; and, if not, why not.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: We have no plans to sign the agreement at present, as it requires the nomination of a "competent authority of the State of departure" to issue laissez-passer for the corpses. There is no appropriate person or organisation who could easily act in this capacity in the UK. We already have a well established chain of responsibility for the disposal of the dead, from the doctor, to the Registrar of Deaths and, if required, to the Coroner. We therefore believe that if we signed up to the agreement it would lead to more bureaucracy, resulting in added delay and further distress to the bereaved families.

Georgia: UK Assistance

The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the humanitarian needs in Georgia; what contacts they have made with the churches and non-governmental organisations active there; and to what effect.

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Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: Britain's direct emergency assistance to Georgia began in March 1993. Grants totalling over £6.1 million have supported UN agencies and non-governmental organisations in a range of humanitarian aid initiatives. In February/March the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs invited donors to attend an assessment mission of the area and to meet NGOs. The ODA sent a team of specialists to participate. Their recommendations led to grants worth over £1 million to worthy projects and effective operators. A further monitoring visit is planned.

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