Unfortunately, owing to prior commitments, I was unable to attend the Second Reading of the Private Members Bill on 16 December, but I know the Government has carefully considered the Bill and supports its key principles, which place a duty on the Government to take all reasonable steps to become compliant with the convention. 
 
This Government remains committed, not only to tackling violence against women and girls, but also to ratifying the Istanbul Convention. As you will be aware, the previous Government signed the Convention in June 2012, and in most respects, the measures already in place in the UK to protect women and girls from violence comply with or go further than the Convention requires.
 
However, further amendments to domestic law, to take extra-territorial jurisdiction over a range of offences, are necessary before the Convention can be ratified. Nevertheless, I have been assured that the Government will seek to legislate when the approach to implementing the extra-territorial jurisdiction requirements in England and Wales is agreed and Parliamentary time allows.