Written question asked by Vera Baird (Labour) on Thursday, 20 April 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 25 April 2006. It was answered by Bridget Prentice (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 April 2006 on behalf of the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Human Rights Act

Question: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) what progress has been made towards making the Human Rights Act 1998 applicable to private providers of public functions;

Answer: My noble Friend the Minister for Human Rights (Baroness Ashton of Upholland) undertook that the Government would seek a case in which to argue for the its original intention as to the scope of the Human Rights Act 1998. A suitable case has been identified, and the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs has applied to intervene. We believe that a successful intervention would be the best resolution of this problem.The Government nevertheless still intends to issue a consultation on the scope of the Human Rights Act in the context of the Discrimination Law Review. As part of this, my noble Friend is of course in contact with her ministerial colleagues, including the Minister for Women and Equality at the Department of Trade and Industry (Meg Munn).

Secondary information