Protection boost for elderly and children blocked » Central Government » 24dash.com

A bid to improve the rights of thousands of elderly residents and children in care homes was blocked by the Government in the Commons today.

Labour's Andrew Dismore (Hendon) sought to extend protections provided by the Human Rights Act so they apply to private providers that have contracts with public bodies, such as contracted-out care homes.

Mr Dismore, chairman of the joint committee on Human Rights, called for an "unambiguous" clarification of the meaning of "public authority" in the Act.

He said that when the private sector carried out public functions, such as care for the elderly or looking after children in private care homes, the Act should apply.

Mr Dismore told MPs that recent court judgments had "disregarded utterly" protections offered in the Act but his Human Rights Act 1998 (Meaning of Public Authority) Bill would clarify the law.

With the advent of increased contracting out since the Human Rights Act came into force, the law had not adapted to the new reality.

"My intention is to ensure that human rights protections apply comprehensively, directly and consistently to all those who receive public services from private providers - including the most vulnerable members of our society," he told MPs.

For the Tories, Jonathan Djanogly said his party could not back the Bill. "We do now have reservations regarding the scope of this Bill as it goes much wider with an unknown regulatory impact on private bodies engaged in public functions," he told the Commons.

Junior justice minister Bridget Prentice said the Government could not support the Bill either.

She said there was no doubt about the importance of the issue.

"I agree entirely that this matter is fundamental to the operation of the Human Rights Act.

"That is why we are taking an effective programme of action to address the issue."

Ms Prentice was still speaking when time ran out at 2.30pm. The Bill goes back down the list of backbench measures and stands virtually no chance of making further progress.