§ 36. Mr. Huntasked the Attorney-General whether he will take steps by legislation or otherwise to allow alleged infringements of individual human rights to be brought before the Court of Appeal in accordance with Article 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
§ The Attorney-General (Sir Elwyn Jones)The human rights specified in the Convention are already accorded under the existing law and practice in this country and remedies against infringements are already available, so that it is unnecessary to make provision for the kind of appeal suggested by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. HuntIs it not a fact that there is no court in this country specifically empowered to adjudicate on violations of human rights? Are the Government not, therefore, in this way in contempt of the European Convention, and would not Human Rights Year be a very appropriate time to put this right?
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo, Sir; I do not think so. I am satisfied that the existing United Kingdom law conforms with the obligations imposed by the Convention and that the rights listed in the Convention are covered by remedies enforceable in our own courts.
§ Sir P. RawlinsonLeaving aside the solution proposed by my hon. Friend, is the Attorney-General satisfied that all decisions taken which can affect the citizen are justiciable—in other words, can 31 go to a court in this country—or is there not a field in which there should be a much closer review of decisions, particularly administrative decisions?
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Government have instituted the Parliamentary Commissioner as an important advance in the protection of the rights of the individual citizen.