§ Lord Spens asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether, in the light of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Saunders v. the United Kingdom in December 1996, they intend to 118WA refer the case of R v. Saunders & Others back to the Court of Appeal, Criminal Division for further consideration as suggested in their judgment of November 1995.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Mr. Kirkhope) has given careful consideration to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case ofSaunders, and considers that the judgment does not constitute grounds for a referral of the case of R v. Saunders and others to the Court of Appeal. This does not preclude further representations being made to the Home Office.