Human Rights (Hansard, 24 May 1993)

§ Mr. Allen
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the waiting time for cases to be decided in the European Court of Human Rights for cases commencing in the last 10 years; what is the projected waiting time for cases commencing in the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
Information on the waiting time for cases to be decided by the European Court of Human Rights over the past 10 years is not readily available.
In practice, most cases are dealt with by the Commission of Human Rights. For those cases which reach the court, the waiting time for a decision is now five to six years. It is clear that, unless there are changes to the machinery of the European convention on human rights, the delays will grow as more countries join the Council of Europe and as awareness of the system increases.
As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has indicated earlier, the United Kingdom will contribute fully to the work now under way to improve the system so that cases are heard in good time.

§ Mr. Allen
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since 1963 the United Kingdom has been found in breach of the provisions of the European convention of human rights; and what that number represents as a proportion of(a) cases brought against the United Kingdom and (b) plaintiff won cases.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

§ Mr. Allen
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cases are currently proceeding against Her Majesty's Government through 371W the European Court of Human Rights; and how much time each has taken so far since commencement of the action.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
There are at present seven cases before the European Court of Human Rights. These cases were first introduced to the European Commission of Human Rights on 28 September 1988; early 1989; 19 January 1989; 9 October 1989; 8 January 1990; 2 February 1990; and 11 May 1990.