§ Lord Coleraineasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their interpretation of the words "public authority" in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights; and what is the legal basis of that interpretation.
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe jurisprudence of the convention institutions contains no statement of general principle as to what constitutes a public authority for the purpose of Article 8. Bodies which the convention institutions have treated as public authorities for the purposes of Article 8 in cases against the United Kingdom, include the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Security Service, the police, prison authorities and local authorities.