Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 2. Questions to the Leader of the House – in the Senedd at 2:34 pm on 28 February 2018.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Julie James Julie James Labour 2:34, 28 February 2018

Thank you for that very important question actually. We've made it very plain that we're utterly opposed to the repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998, and all that that entails, and we're utterly opposed to any withdrawal from the European convention on human rights. We're also opposed to any lessening of human rights protections in the context of the UK's withdrawal from the EU. It's impossible to set out the potential effects of a bill of rights without sight of exactly how these changes would be proposed to be framed. Even small amendments to the Human Rights Act could potentially raise complex legal issues. So, careful scrutiny of any such reforms will be required. The Welsh Government expects to be consulted on these issues when more concrete proposals are made available. But, I just want to make it absolutely plain that we don't see the need for it. We have a Human Rights Act that's been very effective, and it's been shown to be effective. It was drafted mostly by British lawyers in fact. It works inside a convention that has worldwide approval, and to use one of the old clichés, 'Why fix it if it ain't broke?'