To ask Her Majesty's Government why there is a Human Rights Commission for Northern Ireland, rather than Northern Ireland being covered by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. [HL3247]

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has distinct origins flowing from commitments made in the 1998 Belfast agreement. The agreement specified that “a new Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, with membership from Northern Ireland reflecting the community balance, will be established by Westminster legislation”. Part VII of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 provided for the establishment of the commission.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission was established by the Equality Act 2006, replacing the former Commission for Racial Equality, Disability Rights Commission and Equal Opportunities Commission.