HC Deb 20 June 1958 vol 589 c108W
Mr. Benn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for what reasons the United Kingdom delegate to the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations opposed the proposal that a committee should be appointed to study the procedure for handling communications concerning human rights.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

The procedure for handling communications in the Human Rights Commission is governed by Resolutions of the Economic and Social Council (adopted in 1947 and 1950) which have,inter alia, affirmed that the Commission "has no power to take any action in regard to any complaints concerning human rights". Her Majesty's Government support this position. The question of modifying the procedure has been discussed many times in the Commission without result and it was not considered, therefore, that further examination by a special Committee of the Commission was now justified.