Right of Individual Petition under International Conventions

HL Deb 31 March 1999 vol 599 c77WA

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How the acceptance of the right of individual petition under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention Against Torture and the Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination, will interfere with the implementation of the Human Rights Act 1998. [HL1778]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

There is a great deal of work to he done by public authorities across the United Kingdom to prepare for the commencement of the Human Rights Act 1998 and to ensure that it is assimilated successfully. The Government consider that preparing for the right of individual petition under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the other Conventions, and responding to any complaints which may be brought under those procedures, is likely to divert resources from implementing the Human Rights Act 1998.