HC Deb 10 February 1983 vol 36 cc1130-1
5. Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied with the powers and responsibilities of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights.

Mr. John Patten

I believe that it is right that the commission's statutory remit should concentrate on political and religious discrimination, but my my right hon. Friend is aware of the commission's concern about its functions and he will be writing to the chairman shortly on that subject.

Mr. Dubs

Does the Minister agree that it would be desirable to widen the remit and powers of the commission and, in particular, to allow it to investigate subjects of its own choosing, an example of considerable concern being the delay in coroners' reports coming forward on the deaths of children as a result of the use of plastic baton rounds?

Mr. Patten

My right hon. Friend is well aware of the concern already expressed by the commission to have its remit extended beyond straightforward political and religious issues. From time to timeprevious Secretaries of State have referred certain issues to the commission for consultation and my right hon. Friend is certainly not disbarred from referring specific items to it at some future time. He is at present considering the general request and will shortly be writing to the commission and answering exactly the questions that the hon. Gentleman raises.

Mr. Soley

Does the Minister accept that it is important to increase the investigatory powers which the commission needs to carry out its job effectively, otherwise allegations about organisations and institutions in Northern Ireland will be made, fairly or unfairly, and will never be answered to the satisfaction of the minority community? Does the Minister agree that the investigatory powers of the standing commission are extremely important in that respect?

Mr. Patten

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will agree that it is not only the problems of the minority community, but sometimes also those of the majority community, that need to be examined. That having been said, however, the commission is not the only organisation concerned with human rights in the Province. There is also the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Fair Employment Agency. We believe that between the three of them they do an excellent job.