§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has asked them to ratify the Council of Europe's Convention on Migrant Workers; and what response, if ally, they have given to the commission. [HL5046]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, Brice Dickson, wrote to the Secretary of State on 13 and 19 June 2002 concerning the ratification of international treaties, including the Council of Europe's Convention on Migrant Workers.
As was announced in Parliament in April 2002, the Government are reviewing their position on international human rights instruments. The Lord Chancellor's Department is taking the lead on this review. The review body has already met twice in 2002.
It is too early to comment on whether these instruments will be accepted in the form which has been suggested by the Human Rights Commission. However, full consideration will be given to each instrument and the views expressed on each.