Prisoners: Voting

Debate between Lord Willoughby de Broke and Lord McNally

Wednesday 6th July 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Willoughby de Broke]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they intend to respond to the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in April that they should make proposals to grant prisoners the vote within six months of that ruling.

[The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally)]

My Lords, the Government are considering the next steps and Parliament will be the first to be informed when the decisions on the way forward have been reached.

[Lord Willoughby de Broke]

My Lords, I am most grateful to the Minister for that helpful reply, but it does not take us very much further. In February this year, the other place voted by a majority of 212 against giving prisoners the vote, and during the passage of the EU Bill the Government made great play of the sovereignty of Parliament. Which body is actually sovereign? Is it the UK Parliament or the European Court of Human Rights?

[Lord McNally]

On the question of the commitments made last April, we have promised to make our position clear on 11 October. On the question of sovereignty, of course this Parliament remains sovereign. In many cases over the years, Britain has signed up to conventions and treaties as the will of Parliament, and that is still the case with regard to the European Convention on Human Rights.