International Law Government Compliance 2020-11-05
2020-11-05
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from concerns about the government's legislative practices and their alignment with international legal standards.
What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her Department in ensuring Government legislation complies with international law?
I work frequently with Departments on legislation, including on issues that relate to compliance with international law. The UK is committed to the rules-based international system. We were the architects of the post-war international legal order, including the UN Charter, NATO, and the European convention on human rights—a history of which I am very proud.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific effectiveness of her department in ensuring legislation complies with international law was not addressed.
Fundamental Principle Underlying Our Constitution
Domestic Law Is On A Different Plane To International Law
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from concerns about specific bills that are seen as contravening international law and the role of the Attorney General in upholding legal standards.
The United Kingdom Internal Market Bill breaks international law by reneging on the EU withdrawal agreement. The Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill contravenes the right to life and the prohibition of torture under international conventions. The Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill means the UK will be unable to prosecute war crimes after five years, so we will end up at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The Attorney General's job is to ensure that we deliver the rule of law nationally and internationally. She has failed in her duty. Will she now resign?
The hon. Gentleman raises some interesting points, but it seems that he has missed the fundamental principle underlying our constitution and the UK's relationship with international law. It is not right to say that our constitution requires a blind and automatic adherence to international law. Domestic law is on a different plane to international law.
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Assessment & feedback
The question about resignation was entirely avoided, focusing instead on the principles of domestic versus international law.
Fundamental Principle Underlying Our Constitution
Domestic Law Is On A Different Plane To International Law
Response accuracy