§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give effect to the recommendation made by the European Commission against Racism in June 2000 that the United Kingdom should ratify the Convention on the Participation of Foreigners in Public Life. [HL2035]
§ The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker)The United Kingdom signed the Convention on the Participation of Foreigners in Public Life in February 1992. The then government did not seek ratification which, if all parts of the convention were subscribed to, would require changes to domestic law on the franchise for local elections.