HL Deb 25 April 1994 vol 554 c23WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, further to their Answer of 12 April 1994 [WA. 89], they will include in their next periodic report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, submitted under Article 40 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the fact that they have not consulted Parliament since the United Kingdom ratified the covenant of 20 May 1976, about whether legislative or other measures need to be adopted to give effect to the rights recognised in the covenant in the United Kingdom; and, if not why not

Earl Ferrers

As I indicated in my reply on 12 April (col.WA. 89) each periodic report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee under Article 40 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a factual account of the action which was taken by the Government to fulfil the United Kingdom's obligations to take such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to give effect to the rights recognised in the covenant.

Those obligations do not include consultation with Parliament of the character described. There seems no good reason, therefore, why the next periodic report should refer to the question of such consultation.