HC Deb 15 November 1988 vol 140 cc544-5W
Mr. Gorst

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the size of the present backlog of cases awaiting a decision on admissibility at the European Court of Human Rights in Stratbourg; whether he is satisfied that it is now and will remain in the future at a reasonable level; whether he proposes that the United Kingdom Government should take any initiative to alter the present situation; what was the average backlog during each 10-year period since 1958; and if he will ascertain from the European Court of Human Rights what changes recent budgetary increases will make and how soon they will take effect.

Mrs. Chalker

At 31 December 1987 there were 1,208 applications awaiting admissibility decisions by the European Commission on Human Rights. Since the increases in staff approved at last December's budget meeting we are content with the assurance given by the presidents of both the European Commission and the European Court of Human Rights that these increases will enable them to cope with the increased workload and reduce the backlog to acceptable levels. The United Kingdom is chairing a working group which is considering the scope for improvement in present procedures. The statistics requested since 1958 are not available, but a "Survey of Activities and Statistics" of the European Commission and Court of Human Rights, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House, provides more details on applications and decisions.

Mr. Gorst

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the average length of time it has taken for a complaint made to the European Court of Human Rights to be dealt with(a) from its first introduction until a decision on its admissibility has been made and (b) from that time until the case has been finally resolved for each 10-year period since 1958.

Mrs. Chalker

Statistics concerning cases before the European Commission on Human Rights are not available in the form requested. However, in mid-1988 the interval between the referral of a case to the European Court of Human Rights and delivery of judgment was between 15 and 18 months.