COMMENCEMENT

372.     Clauses 134 (the making of rules, regulations and orders under the Act), and 138 (short title, commencement and extent), will come into force on Royal Assent. The other provisions will come into force on such dates as the Secretary of State appoints by order.

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

373.     Section 19 of the Human Rights Act 1998 requires the Minister in charge of a Bill in either House of Parliament to make a statement about the compatibility of the provisions of the Bill with the Convention rights (as defined by Section 1 of that Act). The statement has to be made before second reading. On 9 February 1999 the Rt Hon Jack Straw, Secretary of State for the Home Department, made the following statement:-

"In my view the provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Bill are compatible with the Convention rights".