European Convention on Human Rights compatibility statement and environmental law statement

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26.14Under s 19 of the Human Rights Act 1998 (which incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into the law of the United Kingdom), the Minister in charge of a government bill in either House must, before second reading, make a statement to the effect that in that Minister's view the provisions of the bill are compatible with the Convention rights as defined in s 1 of the Act. If the Minister is unable to do so, they must state this to be the case and indicate that the Government nevertheless wishes the House to proceed with the bill.1 The statement usually appears on the first print of the bill.2 Where bills are not printed for the Lords, the statement is publicised by means of a written statement.3

This requirement does not extend to Private Members' Bills. For private bills, see paras 43.4, 46.8.4

For the scrutiny of bills by the Joint Committee on Human Rights established under Standing Order No 152B, see para 41.11.

Under s 20 of the Environment Act 2021, the Minister in charge of a Government bill must make a statement before second reading if in their view the bill contains provision which, if enacted, would be environmental law, and publish the statement in such manner as they consider appropriate. The Minister must also state either that in their view the bill will not have the effect of reducing the level of environmental protection provided for by any existing environmental law, or that the Minister is unable to make such a statement but that the Government nevertheless wishes the House to proceed with the bill. The statement is usually set out on the cover page of a bill as first published for each House; where bills are not published for the Lords the statement is publicised by means of a written statement.

Footnotes

  1. 1. For example, House of Lords Reform Bill 2012–13 where the statement gave reasons for non-compatibility. The bill for the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 carried a statement of compatibility on introduction in the Commons but amendments made in that House prevented the Minister from stating compatibility when it reached the Lords. See HL Bill 190 (2017–19).
  2. 2. For an example of a bill with no statement on first print, see the Data Protection Bill [Lords] (Bill 153) (2017–19); HC Deb (1 March 2018) 636, c 31WS.
  3. 3. See para 29.7, fn 2; HL Deb (2009–10) 717, c 47WS; ibid (15 November 2017) 785, c 243WS.
  4. 4. The requirement also extends to provisional order confirmation bills (see para 42.18 ).