HL Deb 20 March 2000 vol 611 cc7-8WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers by Lord Williams of Mostyn on 19 May 1999 (WA 35) and 30 June 1999 (WA 41–42) and the requests by Lord Campbell of Alloway on 29 February 2000 (H.L. Deb., cols. 460 and 467) and 6 March 2000 (H.L., Deb., col. 803) that they disclose their full reasons for considering the Representation of the People Bill to be compatible with the right to respect for private life guaranteed by Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, why they have failed to disclose those reasons; and [HL1488]

What are their reasons for considering the Representation of the People Bill to be compatible with the right to respect for private life guaranteed by Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. [HL1489]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

The Government believe that the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 2000 are compatible with the right to respect for private life guaranteed by Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Article 8 has application to many different areas. If the noble Lord has particular reasons to take a contrary view, I would, of course, be happy to consider them.

Copies of correspondence between Home Office officials and the Data Protection Registrar about the Representation of the People Bill have been made available to Lord Campbell of Alloway.