Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Human Rights Act 1998

Tuesday 2 February 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government established an independent review of the Human Rights Act to examine its operation and consider potential reforms.
  • Lord Neuberger highlighted the Human Rights Act's role in ensuring access to justice and protecting rights, despite reducing legal aid.
  • The review focuses on the domestic framework of the Act, not the scope of convention rights, and aims to produce recommendations from diverse UK representatives.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Angela Crawley SNP
Standards & Ethics
Context

The Human Rights Act is under review by the government. This question inquires about specific plans for amending the act.

Question

What are his plans to bring forward proposals to amend the Human Rights Act 1998?

Answer from Robert Buckland

The Government established an independent review of the Human Rights Act that examines its operation and whether changes are required. The review considers domestic court approaches to European Court jurisprudence, balance between courts, government, and Parliament, and what reforms might be justified. It will report in summer.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific plans or proposals for amending the Act were provided; it was framed as a review with no set outcomes.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Angela Crawley SNP
Justice & Courts Standards & Ethics
Context

Lord Neuberger highlighted the importance of the Human Rights Act in ensuring justice access, especially with reduced legal aid.

Question

Last week in the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Lord Neuberger pointed out that the Human Rights Act plays an important role in ensuring that people have access to justice and means to protect their rights. He also noted the importance of maintaining human rights avenues while reducing legal aid centres. Does the Secretary of State agree with this statement?

Answer from Robert Buckland

I agree that the Human Rights Act has played an important part in helping applicants bring cases before courts. However, he clarified that the review is about the framework of the Act itself and not the scope of convention rights scheduled within it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: He did not address whether removing human rights avenues amid reduced legal aid would diminish citizens' ability to protect their rights.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Anne McLaughlin SNP
Context

The questioner noted a change in the narrative from Government Members, who deny structural inequality and seem resistant to explaining their review of the Human Rights Act.

Question

Does he recognise human rights legislation is necessary due to structural inequalities based on race or disability? Are the two linked because this Government does not recognise human rights needs?

Answer from Robert Buckland

They are not linked. The review is about the mechanism of the Act domestically, involving representatives from all parts of the UK with balanced thought diversity. It aims to produce important recommendations without changing convention rights scope.

Partly answered

Not addressed: He did not address whether this Government recognises human rights needs and structural inequality issues based on race or disability.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q4 Anne McLaughlin SNP
Standards & Ethics
Context

The Human Rights Watch published a report stating the UK Government shows willingness to set aside human rights for political expediency and disdain for rule of law.

Question

Is it wrong that Human Rights Watch stated this Government showed willingness to set aside human rights for political expediency and disdain for rule of law? Can he offer any reason why they might have concluded so?

Answer from Robert Buckland

It is totally wrong. The Lord Chancellor and other Ministers deeply respect the rule of law, representing a force for good in world affairs as part of a proud liberal democracy. They will stand up confidently for these principles.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)