Bill of rights 'making progress'

Jack Straw insists progress is being made on drafting proposals

Ministers will outline their thinking on a proposed bill of rights within months, Jack Straw has said.

The government has been accused of dragging its feet over ideas first mooted in 2007, leading to calls from MPs and campaigners for more clarity.

The justice secretary said a proposed bill would be new and complex but a green paper, outlining policy options, would be published before Easter.

Critics say it would do little to stop the erosion of fundamental rights.

Complex arguments

Supporters of constitutional reform believe a bill of rights must be shaped by the public, not government, otherwise the process will be "discredited".

A joint parliamentary committee on human rights has argued that an independent group must be set up to consult the public on what should be in a bill of rights and what should not.

It has said further delays to the green paper would "severely undermine" confidence in the government's commitment to a written bill of rights.

Appearing before the committee, Mr Straw said the reason the green paper had taken so long to prepare was that it represented new constitutional territory.

In particular, ministers were concerned about the extent to which existing rights to health and education should be included in a single document of rights, how people's responsibilities should be articulated and the balance between broad statements of intent and what should be legally enforceable.

"These are really complicated areas and are really important," Mr Straw said.

On the controversial issue of enshrining social and economic rights into law, Mr Straw said MPs must be "extremely careful" about handing over duties which voters expected their elected representatives to perform to the courts.

The idea of a bill of rights is at the heart of Gordon Brown's plans to reform Britain's constitution, with Labour believing it will give people a "stronger sense of citizenship".

Mr Straw also defended the existing Human Rights Act from claims that it has become a "villains' charter" for terrorists and asylum seekers to escape sanctions such as deportation.

He said it was one of the most "abiding" pieces of legislation introduced by Labour since 1997.

But he added that MPs must recognise public concerns about the workings of the act and be prepared to address them.

The Conservatives have called for the act to be replaced with a British bill of rights which protects civil liberties and provides new standards for the courts.