§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Chalker of Wallasey on 30 April 1995 (WA 1) and 29 June 1995 (WA 59–60), what progress has been made in the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands towards restoration of the right of individual petition to the European Court of Human Rights and other suitable legal remedies for infringement of human rights. [HL3520]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanProgress on restoration of the right of individual petition has been limited. However, there has been discussion on constitutional issues, including establishing a Bill of Rights in the British Virgin Islands. In September I signed a Memorandum of Co-operation and Partnership with the BVI Government which reaffirmed the BVI's commitment to the maintenance of human rights standards. At the Dependent Territories Association Conference in London last February the Foreign Secretary stressed the need to ensure that laws in the Overseas Territories did not breach the United Kingdom's international human rights obligations. The issue of human rights will feature in the forthcoming White Paper on the Overseas Territories.