§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Prime Minister if the Charter of Fundamental Rights will accord new rights not currently granted in common law. [106281]
§ The Prime MinisterThere is no agreement that it should do so. The Cologne Conclusions state that
fundamental rights applicable at Union level should be consolidated in Charter and thereby made more evident".
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on including rights of(a) free speech, (b) free association, (c) the existence for political parties and (d) trade union (i) existence and (ii) membership within the Charter of Fundamental Rights; [106279]
(2) if he will make a statement on his Government's policy on including (a) the right of asylum, (b) age discrimination, (c) social rights, (d) education rights, (e) health rights, (f) social security rights, (g) immigrants' rights, (h) same sex partnerships' rights, (i) women's rights, (j) children's rights, (k) economic rights, (l) cultural rights and (m) disabled people's rights in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. [106280]
§ The Prime MinisterWork on the draft Charter has just begun. It is not possible to say at this stage how the drafting body will approach the question of inclusion of the above categories. The Government will wish to explore the best way to profile existing rights in a way which reflects the Cologne Conclusions and the nature of the current application of those rights in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the financial consequences of the adoption of a Charter of Fundamental Rights for(a) industry and (b) government; and if he will make a statement. [106377]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government see no reason for the Charter to add to existing rights and obligations, nor is there agreement that it should so do.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Prime Minister what anti-discrimination enforcement measures will be included in the Charter of Fundamental Rights; and if he will make a statement. [106376]
§ The Prime MinisterIt is for the Charter drafting body to consider how, if at all, such measures should be included.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the withdrawal of voting rights of a member state deemed to be in breach of the Charter of Fundamental Rights under the Treaty of Amsterdam as modified, under Article 13. [106399]
§ The Prime MinisterArticle 7 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) sets out the circumstances whereby the Council can consider suspending certain rights deriving from the TEU, including voting rights, should they determine the existence of a serious and 3W persistent breach by a member state of principles mentioned in Article 6(1) of the TEU. This says that the Union
is founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of lay, principles which are common to the Member States".There is no agreement that the Charter of Rights should give rise to action of that kind, or that it should be incorporated into the EU/EC Treaties.
§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the Prime Minister which body will be the final arbiter on questions on interpretation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. [106389]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government want a non-justiciable Charter which makes existing rights more visible. Where those rights are justiciable elsewhere, the relevant source instruments (for example, the European Convention on Human Rights or the EU/EC treaties) will continue to be interpreted in the usual way by the appropriate institutions (for example, the European Court of Human Rights or the European Court of Justice).