§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 2 May 2000 (WA 156), whether they consider the Human Rights Act 1998 to be sufficiently "bedded down" to allow them to sign the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights allowing the individual right of petition; and, if not, why not; and [HL611]
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 20 March 2000 (WA 1), whether they consider the Human Rights Act 1998 to be sufficiently "bedded in" to allow them to sign the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women; and, if not, why not; and [HL612]
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 12 April 2000 (WA 50), whether they consider the Human Rights Act 1998 to be sufficiently well "implemented" and "bedded down" to allow them to sign the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention Against Torture; and, if not, why not. [HL613]
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)The Act has been fully in force for only ten months. When it has bedded down we will again review the case for allowing the right of individual petition under these United Nations human rights instruments.