HL Deb 29 July 2002 vol 638 c152WA
Earl Howe

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What directions or guidance they propose to issue to social services departments of local authorities in the light of the judgment delivered by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of P.C. and S. v the United Kingdom. [HL5408]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The Government received the judgment delivered by the European Court of Human Rights in the case ofP.C. and S. v the United Kingdom on Tuesday 16 July 2002. The Court did not find any Department of Health legislation or guidance to be in breach of the convention. However, the judgment has raised a number of issues that the Department of Health is giving careful consideration to. The department will ensure that these issues are kept carefully in mind as it develops the guidance necessary to implement the adoption legislation currently before Parliament.