§ 14. Mr. Peter Archerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is Her Majesty's Government's intention to renew the right of individual petition under Article 25 of the European Convention of Human Rights upon the expiry of the present period of acceptance.
§ Mr. AmeryLike most of the countries which have accepted the right of individual petition, the United Kingdom's declaration is made for a specific period. The current period expires on 13th January 1974. The question of renewal will be considered shortly before that date.
§ Mr. ArcherSince it has been known for the last two years that the question will fall to be decided, why does there have to be such prolonged consideration? Since it will fall to be decided almost exactly on the 25th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, would that not be the most inappropriate time to abrogate an important right which has been recognised for the last eight years?
§ Mr. AmeryThe hon. and learned Member should not decide in advance that we are even thinking of abrogation. This is an entirely new step in jurisprudence and we naturally need all the evidence we can get about how it is working before finally making up our minds and, if deciding to proceed, whether to do so for an indefinite or a defined period.
§ Mr. GrieveWill my right hon. Friend agree that it would occasion considerable dismay to those countries which meet with us in the Council of Europe if we were to abrogate that right? I do not imagine for one moment that we shall abrogate but the Convention of Human Rights is so far the greatest flowering of the European principle in the Council of Europe.
§ Mr. AmeryI am sure that my hon. and learned Friend will appreciate that the majority of those countries which have accepted the right of individual petition have done so for a specified period of years. We are in that majority.