Bill of Rights

HC Deb 04 July 2002 vol 388 cc536-7W

Stephen Hesford

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his policy on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. [58366]

Mr. Browne

In accordance with the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the then Secretary of State commissioned the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to "consult and advise on the scope for defining, in Westminster legislation, rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights, to reflect the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland". I understand that the Commission is currently considering submissions made to it following the publication last September of its consultation document 'Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland' and expects to report to me in 2003. The Government's position remains that we will not reach any policy conclusions on the scope for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland until that report has been received.