Oral Answers to Questions

Jeff Smith Excerpts

Thursday 7th December 2023 Commons Chamber

[The Attorney General]

As I said, the UK supports the ICC and its chief prosecutor Karim Khan. We do have surveillance flights operating in the region. The primary purpose of those is to help with the hostage situation. We will say once again that we very much hope that the hostages will be released immediately. It is absolutely the case that we will continue to urge all parties to continue to abide by international humanitarian law.

[Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) (Lab)]

5. What recent steps has she taken with Cabinet colleagues to uphold the rule of law within Government.

[Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab)]

6. What recent steps has she taken with Cabinet colleagues to uphold the rule of law within Government

[The Attorney General (Victoria Prentis)]

As I emphasised to the House of Lords Constitution Committee in June, the rule of law is fundamental to our constitution, and it is the duty of the Law Officers to uphold it.

[Jeff Smith]

I will not ask the Attorney General to comment on specific legal advice that she has given to colleagues—I know she cannot do that—but, as a general point of principle, does she agree that the inclusion of a notwithstanding clause in legislation cannot magic away the international laws to which it refers, especially if an individual claimant can still assert their rights under those international laws?

[The Attorney General]

As the hon. Gentleman knows very well, I am unable to do away with client confidentiality and give him the specifics of any legal advice that I may or may not have given. I take very seriously my obligations to encourage the Government to act in a lawful manner and to ensure that the Government are acting in a lawful manner, both on the domestic front and on the international front.