HL Deb 26 June 2003 vol 650 cc33-4WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6 June (WA 196) and the Government's response to the Report of the European Union Committee on the Review of Scrutiny of European Legislation (First Report, HL Paper 15), whether they will ensure that initial explanatory memoranda about proposed European legislation will contain statements on compatibility not only with the European Convention on Human Rights but also with the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. [HL3304]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The Government responded favourably to the European Union Committee's recommendation that Explanatory Memorandums on proposed European Union legislation should provide a statement on compatibility with the Human Rights Act 1998.

The Convention on the Future of Europe's proposals on the status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union was presented to Heads of State and Government at the Thessaloniki European Council on 19 and 20 June and will be discussed in detail at the inter-governmental conference which will begin later this year.