Bill of Rights

HC Deb 10 July 2002 vol 388 c963W

11. Chris Ruane

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the proposed Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. [65809]

Dr. John Reid

The Belfast Agreement tasked the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission with consulting and advising on the scope for defining, in Westminster legislation, rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights and to reflect the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland.

The Commission published a consultation document, "Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland", in September 2001 and is currently considering the responses it has received to that document.

The Government will reach no policy conclusions on the proposals until the final advice is received from the Commission. This advice is expected in 2003.