To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his letter of 30 August 1997 to the hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Hain), when he expects the United Kingdom will be designated under the South African Extradition Amendment Act. [17625]

I understand that the necessary Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by President Mandela and that designation of the United Kingdom under the Extradition Amendment Act 1996 was approved by the South African parliament during its last session. The designation is to be published in the Government Gazette shortly and will come into effect on the date it is published.