§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the proposals his Department has(a) made in the last five years and (b) proposes to make to the Council of Europe for changes in the text of articles of the European convention on human rights that specify protected rights. [17903]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorWe have made no proposals for any such changes within the last five years. Our present initiative relates to seeking improvements to the way in which the Strasbourg system works.
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what derogations from the European convention on human rights have been advised to the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe since 1970 as a result of(a) war and (b) public emergency; [17904]
(2) which states have to date derogated from the European convention on human rights because of war or public emergency; and if he will show the date and cause of derogation. [17905]
19W
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorThe Secretary General of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg acts as depository for notifications made under the convention. In the time available, we have not been able to obtain from him the information about derogations by other states party. I shall write to the hon. Member.
In respect of the United Kingdom, the only derogations made since 1970 relate to certain powers of detention of persons suspected of terrorist acts connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland. Each derogation supersedes its predecessor by revising the references to reflect current legislation. The last such was on 23 March 1989.