§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which aspects of the Government's human rights policy are his Department's responsibility. [59868]
§ Mr. George RobertsonI refer the right hon. Member to the answers given by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Dept, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), on 24 April 1998,Official Report, columns 721–22, and by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office, my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), on 11 June 1998, Official Report, column 647. The Ministry of Defence works in partnership with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the other Government Departments who have lead responsibilities for different aspects of the Government's human rights policy. This country is an advocate of democracy and human rights the world over and the Recent Strategic Defence review indicates how my Department will continue to play its part in supporting the Government in this.