HL Deb 09 February 2000 vol 609 c92WA
Lord Alton of Liverpool

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps are being or will be taken to ensure that human rights issues will not be subordinated to party political considerations by the proposed Joint Committee on Human Rights. [HL751]

Baroness Jay of Paddington

The Government do not have a majority on the Select Committees of this House, and Select Committees in the Commons are appointed in proportion to party representation in that House.

Joint Committees and Select Committees in both Houses have long had a reputation for political impartiality; there is no reason to believe that the Joint Committee for Human Rights will not work in that tradition.