asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now ready, following consultations with the Commonwealth, to bring forward proposals for amending the Fugitive Offenders Act.

We are in continuing consultation with Commonwealth Governments on this subject and I hope that we will be able to have in the near future further discussions following on the Canberra Conference of Commonwealth Ministers last September. If we can reach agreement on the complex issues involved it will then be possible to proceed with amending legislation.