§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received the Fourth Report of the Standing Advisory Committee on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MasonThe report has been published today and copies have been laid before Parliament. It covers the period from November 1977 to October 1978.
The Commission's major task during this period has been the preparation of a programme of future work. The Commission have identified two broad areas on which they will now concentrate their attention. The first is concerned with the emergency legislation now in force in Northern Ireland. The Commission will be reviewing certain aspects of this. The second may be described as a general "follow-up" to its study of the need for a Bill of Rights. Its report on this subject was published in November 1977—Cmnd 7009. With my approval, the Commission has begun work under both these heads and I look forward to receiving its recommendations in due course.
I am pleased to have this further opportunity to express by gratitude to the Commission on its work over the last year. I look forward very much to seeing the results of the formidable programme of activity on which it is now embarked.