Oral Answers to Questions — Commonwealth Relations – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 1 Rhagfyr 1964.
Mr Dudley Smith
, Brentford and Chiswick
12:00,
1 Rhagfyr 1964
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what proposals he has for the alteration and improvement of the Fugitive Offenders Act, 1881.
Mr Cledwyn Hughes
, Anglesey
Precise proposals were put to Commonwealth Governments several months ago, but we have not yet received the comments of all the Governments. This is, of course, an extremely complex matter. Meanwhile, I should prefer to treat as confidential the various proposals which we are in process of discussing with the Commonwealth.
Mr Dudley Smith
, Brentford and Chiswick
Does not the hon. Gentleman remember that when I taxed my own side on the subject some 18 months ago the then Opposition indicated that if they were in power they would treat this with the utmost urgency and would amend the Act? Does he think that this should now go ahead despite the confidential nature of the discussions, and would he get in touch with the Commonwealth Governments concerned so that we can have a Bill before us in this Session?
Mr Cledwyn Hughes
, Anglesey
We are anxious to complete a review of the Act as soon as possible, and other Commonwealth Governments have been urged to let us have their views at an early date. I hope that it will prove possible for us and the rest of the Commonwealth Governments to move forward in step with each other. I think that that would be the view of hon. and right hon. Members.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
