§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will in practice consult the Law Officers before making statements of compatibility under Section 19 of the Human Rights Act 1998; and, if not, why not. [HL2941]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMinisters making Section 19 statements will do so in the light of the legal advice they have received. That advice may, in appropriate cases, come from the Law Officers. However, by long-standing convention, adhered to by successive Governments, neither the fact that the Law Officers have been consulted on a particular issue, nor the substance of any advice they have given on that issue, is disclosed outside government other than in exceptional circumstances.