Human Rights Commission

HC Deb 22 March 1999 vol 328 c36W

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on political balance in the future make up of the Human Rights Commission. [77084]

Mr. Paul Murphy

The Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires that the Secretary of State, in making appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission,shall as far as practicable secure that the Commissioners, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State on 1 March appointed a Chief Commissioner and nine part-time Commissioners for a three-year term. The Government believe that the Commissioners, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland. There are no plans to make any additional appointments.