§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ratify Protocol 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights. [41754]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe have no plans to ratify Protocol 4 at present. Ratification will be possible only if potential conflicts with our domestic laws can be resolved. There is a particular concern in relation to Article 3(2) of the Protocol, which protects the right of nationals not to be excluded from their home state. This could be taken as conferring the right of abode in the United Kingdom on various categories of British nationals who do not have it.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which optional provisions under UN and Council of Europe human rights agreements he is reviewing possible UK accession; which reservations to human rights treaties he is assessing the advantages of lifting; to which additional conventions he is assessing the advantages of acceding; and if he will make a statement. [41153]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Government announced on 3 July 1997,Official Report, column 221, that they intended to review the United Kingdom's position under various international human rights instruments. This includes the question of whether to accept the right of individuals to submit complaints under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and 73W Political Rights, under Article 22 of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and under Article 14 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The review is in progress and the outcome will be announced when it has been concluded.
In preparing the Human Rights Bill, we also reviewed the United Kingdom's position on Protocols 4, 6 and 7 to the European Convention on Human Rights. Our conclusions were set out in the White paper "Rights Brought Home" (CM 3782).
In addition, the Government have a commitment to review unratified International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions. The Government fully support the principles embodied in the core ILO Conventions and are currently reviewing the United Kingdom's position with regard to ratification of the Conventions on minimum age and discrimination in employment.
Name of APC member January March May June July September November December (a) 1996 Prof. Brazier + + + + + + - + Prof. Anderson + + - - + + + - Prof. Boden + + - + - - + + Prof. Bridges + + - + + + + + Prof. Broughton Pipkin + - + + - + + + Dr. Christopher + + + + + + - + Dr. Cripps + - - + - - - + Dr. Flack1 + + Prof. Flecknell + - + + - + + + Prof. Iversen + - - - + - + + Mrs. Macarthur Clark + - + - - + - - Miss Milburn + - + - + + + + Dr. Purchase + - - + - - + + Dr. Southee + - + + + + + + Prof. Spyer - - - + - + + - Dr. Suckling + + + + + + + + Mr. Ward + + + + + + + + 1 Dr. Flack resigned from the Committee in March 1996
Name of APC member January February April May June July September October November December (b) 1997 Prof. Brazier + + + + + + + - + + Prof. Anderson + + + - + + + + + + Prof. Boden + + + + - - + + + - Prof. Bridges1 + + + + - + + + - + Prof. Broughton Pipkin1 + - + + + + - + - + Dr. Christopher2 + + - - - - Dr. Cripps - + - - - - - - + - Prof. Dunbar3 + + + + + + - - + - Prof. Flecknell - - + + - + + - + + Mr. Gregory3 + + + + - + + + + - Prof. Iversen1 - + + + - - + + + - Mrs. Macarthur Clark - - + + + + - + - - Miss Milburn + - - + + - - + + + Dr. Purchase - - - + - - - + + + Dr. Southee + + + - - + + + - + Prof. Spyer1 + + + + - - - + + + Dr. Suckling - + + + + - + + + + Prof. Turner3 - + + - - - + + + + Mr. Ward + + + + + + + + + + 1 Professors Bridges, Broughton Pipkin, Iversen and Spyer retired from the Committee in December 1997. 2 Dr. Christopher resigned from the Committee in August. 3 Professors Dunbar and Turner and Mr. Gregory were appointed to the Committee with effect from 1 January 1997.