§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer given by Baroness Chalker of Wallasey on 21st May 1996 (WA 89), whether they will give examples of instances in which the European Court and Commission of Human Rights have failed to give full weight to the principle that free societies have the right, within limits, to choose for themselves the human rights policies that best suit them.
§ Lord CheshamWe have made clear our views on a number of the judgments with which we were dissatisfied. Our primary concern now is to encourage the Strasbourg institutions to take full account of the need to allow for diversity.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will accept the option protocol so as to enable individuals within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom to have resource to the Human Rights Committee in relation to alleged breaches of human rights protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and not protected by the European Convention on Human Rights.
§ Lord CheshamWe do not believe that becoming a party to the First Optional Protocol under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights would significantly enhance the protection of human rights in the United Kingdom.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which member states of the Council of Europe have accepted the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights enabling individuals to have recourse to the Human Rights Committee for alleged breaches of the covenant, and which member states have not yet done so.
§ Lord CheshamThe following member states of the Council of Europe have accepted the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,128WA Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine.
The following member states have not done so:
Albania, Andorra, Greece, Liechtenstein, Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which rights and freedoms secured by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights are not secured by the European Convention on Human Rights.
§ Lord CheshamWhile there are a number of differences between the two instruments, the principal rights and freedoms conferred by the covenant are also conferred by the Convention.