Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Valerie Vaz and Mark Harper

Tuesday 10th July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

2. What assessment he has made of the implications for his policies on constitutional reform of the introduction of a British Bill of Rights.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr Mark Harper)]

The hon. Lady will know that the Commission on a Bill of Rights is investigating the introduction of a UK Bill of Rights, building on our responsibilities under the European convention on human rights. It is due to report at the end of this year. We look forward to its report, but I do not want to pre-empt its conclusions.

[Valerie Vaz]

I thank the Minister for his response. Given that there are absolute rights and qualified rights under the Human Rights Act 1998 and the margin of appreciation doctrine, does the Minister know whether the commission is considering the possibility of the Human Rights Act sitting alongside the Bill of Rights in a happy coalition of rights and responsibilities?

[Mr Harper]

I do not know whether that is what the commission will recommend. It gave us some welcome interim advice on reform of the European Court of Human Rights, which was helpful in the negotiations that secured the agreement of all 47 members of the Council of Europe to some improvements, which were welcomed on both sides of the House. I will wait to see what the commission recommends at the end of the year.