§ Mr. Marlowasked the Prime Minister whether she will introduce legislation to restrict the powers of the European Court of Human Rights as regards United Kingdom law such that it has no status with regard to political as distinct from purely legal issues; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterThe United Kingdom has signed and ratified the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. It would not be practicable or possible, to distinguish between judgments of the European Court which the United Kingdom has, under the convention, an obligation to abide by. Amendments to the convention, including any affecting the role of the European Court, need to be agreed by the contracting parties and could not be imposed by domestic legislation.