HL Deb 14 January 2002 vol 630 cc143-4WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Following the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland's letter of 24 March 1999 to the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, whether the Commission had sought clarification or elaboration on, inter alia, the meaning of the word "consult", "advise", "scope" and "supplementary" in the paragraph of the Belfast Agreement of 1998 quoted by the Secretary of State; and whether they will publish any such correspondence received or sent. [HL2034]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission did not seek any clarification on the meaning of particular words in the paragraph of the Belfast Agreement of 1998 quoted by the Secretary of State. We understand that the commissioners did not feel that the words required any clarification.