§ 6. Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the European Court of Human Rights and Ms Alison Halford, former assistant chief constable of Merseyside. [15283]
§ Mr. HowardAs Ms Halford's case is currently before the European Court of Human Rights, it would not be right for me to comment on it.
§ Mr. JonesWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree to see me and Ms Halford to discuss this complicated matter? Will the Department make an apology to my constituent for tapping her office telephone, on the understanding that she was an excellent crime buster and not a criminal? Will the Department seriously and urgently consider compensation for my constituent, who has suffered a grave injustice? Some uniformed officers have a great deal to answer for in that distressing case.
§ Mr. HowardNo. The hon. Gentleman's constituent has taken her case to the European Court of Human Rights and that litigation must take its course.
§ Mr. MarlowAs Home Secretary in a mature democracy whose courts have an unrivalled reputation throughout the world, has my right hon. and learned Friend ever been tempted to seek to withdraw the United Kingdom from the jurisdiction of that foreign court?
§ Mr. HowardI am frequently tempted by all sorts of things, but the advantages of our continued adherence to the European convention on human rights and the European Court outweigh the disadvantages. Therefore, I think that we should continue to adhere to that convention.