§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend by the end of 2002 to publish the report of their inquiry into the case for United Kingdom acceptance of the jurisdiction of the United Nations Human Rights Committee and for specialised human rights treaty bodies to consider complaints against the United Kingdom of breaches of human rights; and for United Kingdom ratification of Protocol 4 to the European Convention on Human Rights. [HL5893]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)On 7 March 2002, I announced that my department would lead an interdepartmental review of the United Kingdom's position under various international human rights instruments. The terms of reference for the review were:
"To review the United Kingdom's position on international human rights instruments in the light of experience of the operation of the Human Rights Act, the availability of existing remedies within the UK, and law and practice in other EU Member States; and to report by Spring 2003."
The review is now well under way and is examining, among other matters, the case for acceding to the right of individual petition to the United Nations Human Rights Committee and other specialised human rights treaty bodies; and for United Kingdom ratification of Protocol 4 to the European Convention on Human Rights. The review is on schedule to report to Ministers by Spring 2003.I would expect to be able to report the outcome shortly thereafter.