European Commission for Democracy Through Law

HL Deb 18 November 1996 vol 575 c122WA

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Trumpington on 16th December 1994 (WA 147), whether they will make the United Kingdom a member of the Partial Agreement establishing the Commission for Democracy through Law, so that (a) a British independent expert may be appointed as a member of the Commission; (b) the publication of information about the British parliamentary and legal systems may be included in the Commission's activities; and (c) the United Kingdom may participate in the Commission's work in the development of democracy in Europe; and, if not, why not.

Lord Chesham

We continue to follow the work of the European Commission for Democracy through Law. However, we remain concerned that the Commission's work may not add to the work already being carried out elsewhere. We consider that our support for pluralist democracy, particularly for the new democracies of central and eastern Europe, remains best channelled through other Council of Europe programmes and our Know-how Fund. We do not want our existing effort to be diluted by devoting resources, already under pressure, elsewhere at this stage.