HL Deb 06 November 1996 vol 575 c62WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will take steps to ensure that the Contempt of Court Act 1981 is interpreted and applied by the courts consistently with the obligations imposed by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights in all parts of the United Kingdom.

The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)

It would be wrong for the Government to seek to influence how the courts, in their independent judgment, interpret the way legislation should apply to particular cases. Where the Government are themselves a party, their arguments would be put to the courts in the usual way.