*The House of Lords is adjourned for Easter and will return on Mon 23 April.*
Mon 16/4/2012
Prisoner Rights: Judiciary
In R (on the app of Ian Shutt and John Tetley) v Sec of St for Justice, the High Court ruled sexual offender prisoners were unlawfully denied certain privileges under prison rules.
Judgment | UKHRB
Corporate Responsibility: Media
Human rights and environmental pressure groups have joined forces to campaign against three sponsors of the London Olympics.
BBC
Extradition: Media
Shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan is pressing the Home Secretary for Babar Ahmad to be charged in Britain instead of being extradited to the US to face terrorism charges.
Guardian
Deportation: Media
Theresa May is to announce she will not appeal against the ECtHR ruling blocking the deportation of Abu Qatada, with a deadline in the case set to pass at midnight.
Guardian
Tues 17/4/2012
Deportation: House of Commons
Officers from the UKBA have arrested and detained Abu Qatada and served notice that we are resuming his deportation in full compliance with the law. A detailed statement was made and discussion took place on the circumstances of Abu Qatada’s case.
Theresa May, Home Secretary, Conservative
Full transcript | BBC | Guardian
European Court of Human Rights: Media
The Government is ‘quietly confident’ it will secure changes to the ECtHR at a conference this week, Downing Street has said.
BBC
Wed 18/4/2012
Deportation: Media
Radical cleric Abu Qatada’s deportation has been thrown into doubt after the ECtHR said it had received a last-minute appeal.
BBC
Thurs 19/4/2012
Same-Sex Marriage: House of Commons
The Government published a formal consultation on 15 March , which considers how to enable same-sex couples to have a civil marriage. The timetable will enable us to make legislative changes before the end of this Parliament.
Lynne Featherstone, Under-Sec of St of St for Equalities, Lib Dem
Full transcript
Age Discrimination: House of Commons
A short discussion was had on the issue of age discrimination. It is the minister’s view that the provisions considered in discussions relating to the Equality Bill should still be pushed through. The issue of a gender pay gap was also touched upon.
Lynne Featherstone, Under-Sec of St of St for Equalities, Lib Dem
Full transcript
Deportation: House of Commons
A statement was made and discussion took place on the case of Abu Qatada who has applied for a referral of the judgment to the Grand Chamber. The Government are clear he has no right to refer the case but the ECtHR has no automatic mechanism to rule out an application.
Full transcript | BBC | Guardian
Asylum: House of Commons
Each asylum and human rights claim is considered on its own merits in accordance with the UKBA’s obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the ECHR.
Damian Green, Min of St for Immigration, Conservative
Full transcript
Equality and Human Rights Commission: House of Commons
The Government wants the EHRC to become a valued and respected national institution and will be publishing its response to the consultation last year ‘Building a Fairer Britain: Reform of the EHRC’ shortly setting out how it plans to proceed.
Lynne Featherstone, Under-Sec of St of St for Equalities, Lib Dem
Full transcript
Religious Freedom: House of Commons
The Government believes that domestic law already strikes the right balance between the rights of employees to manifest their faith and that of employers to place legitimate and appropriate restrictions on that freedom. There are no currently plans to change the law in this respect.
Lynne Featherstone, Under-Sec of St of St for Equalities, Lib Dem
Full transcript
European Court of Human Rights: Media
Justice Secretary Ken Clarke said an agreement reached at a conference in Brighton will make ‘a big difference’ to the ECtHR.
BBC | Guardian | UKHRB
Deportation: Media
Prime Minister David Cameron has vowed that radical cleric Abu Qatada will be deported from the UK to face trial in Jordan’ however long it takes, however many difficulties there are along the way’.
BBC
Fri 20/4/2012
Deportation: Media
The Government will resist any application for bail by radical cleric Abu Qatada, Downing Street has said.
BBC | Guardian
Abortion: Media
Two Roman Catholic midwives who lost a legal battle to avoid taking part in abortion procedures have appealed against the decision.
BBC
Sat 21/4/2012
Deportation: Media
Government attempts to deport the radical cleric Abu Qatada face becoming embroiled in possibly years of legal argument, threatening to further embarrass the Home Secretary.
Guardian
Sun 22/4/2012
European Court of Human Rights: Media
Ken Clarke has said changes to the ECtHR will reduce ‘frustration’ over cases such as the proposed deportation of Abu Qatada.
BBC
