HL Deb 21 January 1999 vol 596 cc115-6WA
Lord Mackay of Drumadoon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the announcement by the Home Secretary on 21 October 1998 of the setting up of a task force to assist the Government in the implementation of the Human Rights Act 1998 in England and Wales, (a) whether they have any plans to establish a similar task force or committee for Scotland; (b) if not, why not; and (c) if so, when this will be done. [HL509]

The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)

The Human Rights Task Force announced by my right honourable friend the Home Secretary will be invited to seek comments from Scottish interests among others on issues of general application, and to hold one or more Scottish sessions to discuss specifically Scottish issues that emerge in the course of its work. A separate task force in Scotland would be bound to duplicate some of this work and for that reason we do not propose to establish one. But the Scottish Executive and Parliament will be able to reach their own view on this issue when they begin operating later this year.