§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend, before the next General Election, to introduce legislation enabling them to ratify Protocol No. 7 to the European Convention on Human Rights and to give effect to the Protocol in relation to the United Kingdom. [HL4388]
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)The Government will introduce the legislation necessary to remove obstacles to the ratification of Protocol 7 in the law of England and Wales when parliamentary time allows. Legislation will also be required for Scotland, which is within the competence of the Scottish Parliament, and for Northern Ireland, which will ultimately be within the competence of the Northern Ireland Assembly.