asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the membership of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission reflects the community in Northern Ireland; and, if so, by what measurement. [HL5700]

All appointments to the commission are made under Section 68(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which states:

“In making appointments under this section, the Secretary of State shall as far as practicable secure that the Commissioners, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland”.

The Secretary of State has complied with this obligation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In view of the reduction in funding for the Irish Human Rights Commission announced last week and the obligation in the Belfast agreement of 1998 that the Irish and Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissions should have the same level of scope and activity, what reduction in the funding of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission they propose. [HL5755]

The section of the Belfast agreement referred to by the noble Lord provides that, “the Irish Government will establish a Human Rights Commission with a mandate and remit equivalent to that within Northern Ireland”. There is no obligation in the Belfast agreement to effect a reduction in funding for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission as a result of any changes to the funding levels of the Irish Human Rights Commission. No reduction to the budget of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is planned.