§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have expressed any view to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission about its refusal to extend the period of consultation on its draft bill of rights beyond 1 December, as urged by the Bill of Rights Consortium. [HL1284]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)It is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to determine how to conduct the consultation exercise, including the amount of time allocated for people to respond. The consultation period of 12 weeks given by the commission is consistent with Cabinet Office advice to government departments (which recommends that non-departmental public bodies should also be guided by this advice). I understand that the commission has also put back the deadline for submissions from children and young people to the end of January.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission advised that the United Kingdom should appeal in the four European Court of Human Rights cases of 4 May, referred to collectively under the name Jordan. [HL1303]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has not issued any advice on whether the UK Government should appeal in those four cases.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have asked the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to draft a strategic plan for 2002–05; and whether any new commission appointed from 1 March 2002 would be bound by any such document. [HL1305]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent body and as such is responsible for agreeing its own work related forward planning within its legislative remit.
The Northern Ireland Office, as sponsoring department, has a requirement to ensure that the grant aid to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is sufficient for it to carry out its legislative functions and also that the money is properly accounted for. The commission has been asked to give consideration to its budgetary requirements for the years 2003–06 to enable the Northern Ireland Office to include the commission's bid for funds within its own planning documents.
22WA
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is the view of the Chief Commissioner for Human Rights for Northern Ireland that it is possible to remove proposals from the commission draft document published on 4 September. [HL1385]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThis is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Chief Commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.