Oral Answers to Questions

Amy Callaghan Excerpts

Tuesday 16th March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Amy Callaghan (East Dunbartonshire) (SNP)]

What steps his Department is taking to maintain human rights standards after the end of the transition period.

[Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)]

What plans he has to amend the Human Rights Act 1998.

--- Later in debate ---

[Chris Philp]

I agree that fundamental human rights should be protected at all costs. The Bill we are debating does protect the right to peaceful protest, while at the same time respecting the rights of other people to get to their work and the need of emergency vehicles to secure safe passage down the highway, for example. On human rights, I was concerned by the passage through the Scottish Parliament last week of a law that had a chilling effect on free speech.

[Amy Callaghan [V]]

[Inaudible.]—of the Human Rights Act, in which it is made clear that it would robustly oppose any attempt to undermine the UK’s commitment to the European convention on human rights or distance the UK from membership of the Council of Europe. Does the Minister agree it is crucial that those assurances are given to Scotland and will he be working to ensure that the views of Scotland’s Government are heard and respected?

[Chris Philp]

Yes, most certainly. There is no plan to repudiate our obligations under the European convention on human rights and there is certainly no plan to leave the Council of Europe, so I can absolutely give the hon. Lady the assurance she asks for. On working closely with the Scottish Government, yes we are doing that and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Scottish Government for the response to the review’s call for evidence, which I believe has already been received.