EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

167. Section 19 of the Human Rights Act 1998 requires the Minister in charge of a Bill in either House of Parliament before Second Reading to make a statement about the compatibility of the provisions of the Bill with the Convention rights (as defined by section 1 of the Act). The Secretary of State for the Home Department has made the following statement:

     In my view the provisions of the Hunting Bill are compatible with the     Convention rights.

COMMENCEMENT

168. The Bill as introduced provides that it would come into effect by Order of the Secretary of State, made by statutory instrument and laid in draft before, and approved by, the House of Commons and the House of Lords (but see paragraph 15 above).