Oral Answers to Questions

Gavin Newlands 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.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Chris Philp)]

The UK has a long-standing tradition of securing human rights. Indeed, the United Kingdom, for many decades and centuries, has been a beacon around the world for the protection of human rights. The operation of the Human Rights Act, now over 20 years old, is being reviewed. The review is being led by Sir Peter Gross, a retired Court of Appeal judge, supported by, among others, two QCs and two professors.

--- Later in debate ---

[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.

[Gavin Newlands [V]]

[Inaudible.]—my hon. Friend the Member for East Dunbartonshire (Amy Callaghan) has just referred to, and both this Government’s desire for power grabs in many other areas of Scottish Parliament competence and the fact that Scotland’s legal system is separate and distinct, does the Minister agree that when published the review should include a commitment that they cannot and must not impinge on the integrity of Scottish law?

[Chris Philp]

The review is into human rights. As I said, the United Kingdom has been a beacon of human rights for many centuries now and we intend to honour our ECHR obligations. There is no intention to interfere with the Scottish legal system, although I am rather concerned by the remarks Lord Hope made about the apparent problems with the independence of Scotland’s prosecutors.