HL Deb 10 March 1997 vol 579 cc13-4WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chalker of Wallasey of 24 February 1997 (H.L. Deb., WA 74) whether their objection to the incorporation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights into the domestic law of the United Kingdom would still arise if incorporation did not interfere with parliamentary sovereignty; and, if not, why not.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)

The Government consider that incorporation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights into the domestic law of the United Kingdom is not necessary in order to secure the rights and freedoms protected under these treaties, and that incorporation would have undesirable implications for the United Kingdom's constitutional arrangements, including the principle of parliamentary sovereignty and the traditional apolitical position of the courts.