§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what studies his Department has undertaken on the European convention on human rights; and if he will make a statement on the implications of writing the convention into United Kingdom law. [1163]
§ Mr. HowardI have been asked to reply.
The operation of the European convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms is subject to regular review within Government. Following one such review, my hon. Friend the Member for Upminster (Sir N. Bonsor) announced proposals on 13 December 1995 for securing improvements in the convention's operation, which are presently under consideration in the Council of Europe. A paper setting out these proposals is available in the Library.
333WThe implications of incorporating the convention into United Kingdom law have been set out on a number of occasions by the Government, most recently by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor and my noble Friend Baroness Blatch during debate in the other place on 3 July 1996 at columns 1451–52 and 1567–68.