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Human Trafficking

I usually try to answer questions, but to be honest I am not sure whether I can answer that one in a way that would satisfy the hon. Gentleman. I repeat that I want the convention to be ratified as quickly as possible and the changes that would make that ratification meaningful to take place as soon as possible. All that I can do is give a commitment to all hon. Members here that I will work to achieve that. I cannot say that ratification will happen by the end of 2007 or by May 2008—I do not know. I just want matters to progress quickly, and my determination is reflected by other Ministers, the stakeholders and, as far as I can see, all Members of the House. The hon. Member for Totnes raised a number of questions about the CEOP report. That report is being progressed. I put on the record an apology to the hon. Gentleman: my reading of the timetable on that was not as accurate as I would have hoped. However, let him understand that we are genuine about publishing the report because—this goes back to the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon and the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon—we want to undertake research and to have a greater understanding of what is going on. The CEOP report will help us to understand more about the situation regarding children. We look forward to its publication because it will demonstrate certain things about the nature and extent of child trafficking, which will allow us to develop and amend our policies accordingly.