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Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Smith of Clifton (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Wednesday, 15 June 2011.

Northern Ireland: Bill of Rights

Question: My Lords, that is a smidgen of an improvement on the Answer given the last time I raised this question, and I suppose that that is progress. Can my noble friend tell me frankly whether the Government are going to continue the previous Government’s policy of kicking this issue into touch, or when we might have some positive progress on implementing this last aspect of the Belfast agreement?

Answer: My Lords, I cannot give any specific dates or times. Civil servants have already talked to people in the human rights fraternity in Northern Ireland, and the next job is to get involved with the Assembly and to get things moving. I said on the previous occasion, and I repeat now, that with the new Assembly there is an opportunity to break into this issue, which I understand is of long standing. It is important that we move forward.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 728 c781-2
Session: 2010-12
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Bill of Rights Northern Ireland
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk