§ Mr. AshbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received the 15th report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeThe report has been published today, and copies have been laid before Parliament. It covers the period 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990.
The report covers a wide range of matters which the commission has considered during the period under review. These include discrimination and equality of opportunity including fair employment, education, the law relating to children, police and criminal evidence matters, prisons, emergency legislation, the Broadcasting Bill and electoral law.
I attach importance to the work of the commission and value the advice it gives me on a range of human rights issues. I am particularly grateful to the commission for having maintained a programme of work in addition to its recent review of the adequacy and effectiveness of existing laws and institutions to secure freedom from discrimination and further equality of opportunity in Northern Ireland. I laid the second report of that review before Parliament on 26 June—Cm.1107.
Copies of my response to the commission's 15th report and of the report itself have been placed in the Library.