Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Richard Shepherd (Conservative) on Wednesday, 29 January 2014, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 February 2014. It was answered by Simon Hughes (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 25 February 2014 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

European Convention On Human Rights

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Christchurch of 10 December 2013, Official Report, column 123W, on the European Convention on Human Rights, when he intends to bring the EU's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights before Parliament for its approval; and what recent meetings he has had on this matter.

Answer

Parliament will be given a full opportunity to examine the terms of the EU's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights in accordance with the requirements of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 and the European Union Act 2011, as well as the usual EU scrutiny processes in each House.

A draft accession agreement is currently before the European Court of Justice for an opinion on its compatibility with the EU Treaties. The Commission's 2014 Work Programme sets out that the Commission intends to produce a legislative proposal on the internal

EU rules this year; that will be deposited in Parliament once it is received. The 2014 Work Programme was deposited in Parliament on 15 November 2013:

http://europeanmemoranda.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/memorandum/communication-from-the-commission-to-the-european-parliament-the-council-the-european-economic-social-committee-1384673730

The Lithuanian presidency provided a state of play report on the EU's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights at the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 5-6 December, which the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, the right hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), the Secretary of State for Justice attended.

That report indicated that the Commission's legislative proposal will not be issued until the European Court of Justice has delivered its opinion on the compatibility of the draft accession agreement with the EU Treaties. This was set out in the written ministerial statement given by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), on 12 December 2013, Official Report, columns 58-62WS:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131212/wmstext/131212m0001.htm

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
185716; 576 cc244-6W
Session
2013-14
Related items
European Convention on Human Rights
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
European Convention on Human Rights
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk