§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the Government will not at present ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
§ Mr. AmerySpecial care is needed because the obligations which would be assumed under the covenant would apply not only to the United Kingdom itself but also to the Dependent Territories, each of which has its own laws and practice to be examined. The task of establishing that the laws and practice in both the United Kingdom and the Dependent Territories conform with the obligations which would be undertaken under the covenant must clearly be completed before the covenant can be ratified.
The delay in ratifying the covenant has little substantial effect. The situation in this country is monitored by the European Court of Human Rights, whose compulsory jurisdiction we have accepted. As for overseas countries where particular violations of human rights may occur, ratification will have no effect unless the Government of the country concerned has also ratified.