Belfast Agreement: Letter from Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Committee

HL Deb 09 January 2003 vol 642 cc239-40WA

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they agree with the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Committee, who in a letter of 11 November to the Northern Ireland Court Service indicated that the Belfast Agreement requires the abolition of references to the Sovereign and neutrality and inclusiveness in the administration of justice. [HL463]

The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)

Correspondence of this type would normally be treated in confidence. I do not therefore propose to comment on the detail of what is in the commissioner's letter of 11 November except to say it relates to a number of draft amendments to the Coroners Rules in Northern Ireland which are under consideration, including an amendment to the form of oath to be taken by a juror in a Coroners Court in Northern Ireland. The commissioner's views are of course a matter for him, but I do not understand his letter to say that the removal of references to the Sovereign is a requirement of the Belfast Agreement.