§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Jay of Paddington on 20 May (WA 56). what are their reasons for delaying asking both Houses to approve Motions to appoint a joint committee on human rights; and [HL2650]
Whether they consider that the proposed joint committee on human rights should be able to enquire into ministerial statements of compatibility made under Section 19 of the Human Right Act 1998; and [HL2666]
Whether they consider that the proposed joint committee on human rights should be empowered to consider amendments tabled during the passage of a bill which might render the bill incompatible with Convention rights; and [HL2667]
Whether they consider that the proposed joint committee on human rights should be able to scrutinise the compatibility of secondary legislation with convention rights. [HL2668]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Jay of Paddington)The joint committee will be appointed in the context of the Human Rights Act 1998, which will come fully into force on 2 October 2000. It is intended 103WA to set up that committee before the Human Rights Act 1998 comes fully into force so that it will have time to prepare its work. The terms of reference for the joint committee have yet to be finalised and proposed to both Houses. However, it is envisaged that they will include the conduct of inquiries into general human rights issues in the United Kingdom, the scrutiny of remedial orders, the examination of draft legislation where there is doubt about compatibility with the incorporated convention rights and the issue of whether there is a need for a human rights commission to monitor the operation of the Human Rights Act.