§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what ways the Government is carrying forward its commitment to the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. [161413]
§ Mr. RammellThe United Kingdom ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 1976 and since then the Government has continued to work to improve protections for economic and social rights, in line with the international legal obligations set out in the Covenant.
314WThe Covenant contains a large number of rights which are properly the primary responsibility of a range of Government Departments. These include rights related to education, health, work, housing, clothing, food and culture. The role of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is primarily concerned with international processes dealing with these rights and with co-ordinating material for submission to the UN Committee which monitors treaty compliance. In this latter regard, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office ensures that the recommendations of the Committee are transmitted to those Departments with responsibilities for fulfilling the Covenant's obligations.