§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the Human Rights Act 1998 following the judgment of76W the Court of Appeal in the case of R v. Perry; what steps he is taking to prevent abuse of the type referred to in the judgment; and if he will make a statement. [121986]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 12 May 2000]: The Human Rights Act 1998 gives further effect in United Kingdom law to most of the rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights, which successive governments and Parliament have abided by for the last 50 years. The Court of Appeal takes a robust approach to those who waste its time and the position should be no different when the Human Rights Act comes fully into force. All judges, lay magistrates and their legal advisers are being trained to deal with Convention points effectively.