§ Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received the ninth annual report of the standing advisory commission on human rights; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PriorThe report was published yesterday, and copies have been laid before Parliament. It covers the period from 1 November 1982 to 31 October 1983.
The report makes recommendations and observations on the emergency legislation for the control of terrorism in Northern Ireland, police complaints procedures, personation and electoral abuse, and local government boundaries, and the law on divorce. Other matters included in the report are discussion of the commission's remit and future role, the undertaking of a review of the laws on civil marriage, and reference to the schools essay competition on human rights which was held for the first time this year.
I attach great importance to the protection of human rights in Northern Ireland, and would like to express my appreciation of the valuable and thorough work carried out by the commission over the past year.