Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Martyn Day and Oliver Heald

Tuesday 1st November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Sir Oliver Heald]

I am so sorry, Mr Speaker. Perhaps with your leave I could also answer question 7 in the same way.

[Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP)]

7. What recent progress has been made on the Government’s plans to replace the Human Rights Act 1998.

--- Later in debate ---

[Sir Oliver Heald]

The Government were elected with a mandate to reform and modernise the UK human rights framework, and there are good reasons for that. We have a proud tradition in respect of human rights. The Government are also considering the overall constitutional landscape and how this will fit it following Brexit, but this is something that we are committed to.

[Martyn Day]

The Council of Europe commissioner for human rights has also said of the consultation on the Human Rights Act:

“My impression is that the debate over the HRA in Westminster is not a true reflection of concerns outside England”.

Does the Minister appreciate that there is no support in Scotland for the plans, and that the impact of any attempt to repeal the Act would be to provoke a constitutional crisis?

[Sir Oliver Heald]

The issue of human rights is important in all parts of the United Kingdom, and we accept that. We will fully engage with the devolved Administrations on this question. Many people feel that there is a need for a British jurisprudence to emerge on the European convention on human rights and a need to assert certain ancient rights that we have in Britain, such as that relating to jury trial.