asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government, having concluded its recent review of the status of women in non-self-governing territories, will now ratify the Convention of Political Rights for Women before United Nations Year for Human Rights in 1968.

Her Majesty's Government are actively tackling the problems in the way of accession to the Convention. Some of these problems are of considerable complexity, but as my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said on 14th February, Her Majesty's Government would, in principle, like the United Kingdom to accede. We hope to announce our decision in the course of the present year.