§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the European Convention on Human Rights is a multi-national convention which requires contracting states to secure to everyone within their jurisdiction the fundamental human rights or freedoms which it guarantees, and to provide effective national remedies for breaches of the Convention; and
Whether the International Covenant on the Civil and Political Rights is a multi-national convention which requires contracting states to take the necessary steps, in accordance with their constitutional processes, to adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to give effect to the rights recognised in the Covenant, and to ensure that any person whose rights of freedom which are recognised by the Covenant and are violated shall have an effective remedy before national authorities.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil Political Rights has affected either existing law or the private rights of individuals or corporations in this country.
Earl FerrersThe Government take full account of their obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in the formulation of legislation. In addition, the United Kingdom is bound by the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and, where it has been found to be in violation of the convention, it gives effect to those judgments, by amendment to the law or changes in administrative practice, as necessary.