§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will, as a matter of normal practice, disclose their reasons for withholding statements of compatibility under Section 19 of the Human Rights Act 1998 or make these reasons known to Parliament before the Second Reading of Government Bills. [HL2413]
§ Lord Williams of MostynHer Majesty's Government believes that a debate in Parliament provides the best forum in which the person responsible can explain his or her thinking on the compatibility of the provisions of a Bill with the Convention rights. Reasons can then be given in the context of particular concerns about particular provisions. Convention issues are frequently complex. It would be difficult to do justice to them in a written statement accompanying a Bill and it would not be practicable to provide a written statement of reasons in advance of the parliamentary proceedings on the Bill.