§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer given by the Lord Chancellor on 3rd April 1996 (WA 47), whether they consider that English courts are obliged to interpret the relevant provisions of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 in accordance with the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights of 27th March 1996 in the case of Goodwin v. United Kingdom.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)If Section 10 or Section 14 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 falls to be interpreted in future litigation by an English court, it will be for that court to decide what weight to attach to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the circumstances of the litigation.