The Committee of Ministers,

Having regard to Article 54 (art. 54) of the Convention for the

Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (hereinafter

referred to as "the convention");

Having regard to the judgment of the European Court of Human

Rights in the "Golder" case, delivered on 21 February 1975 and

transmitted the same day to the Committee of Ministers;

Recalling that the case had its origin in an application against the

United Kingdom lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights

under Article 25 (art. 25) of the convention by a United Kingdom

citizen, Mr Sidney Elmer Golder;

Recalling that the case had been brought on 27 September 1973 before

the Court by the Government of the United Kingdom in pursuance of

Article 48 (art. 48) of the convention;

Whereas in its judgment, the Court held by nine votes to three that

there had been a breach of Article 6, paragraph 1 (art. 6-1) of the

convention, unanimously that there had been a breach of Article 8

(art. 8) of the convention and unanimously that the preceding findings

amounted in themselves to adequate just satisfaction under Article 50

(art. 50) of the convention;

Having regard to the "Rules concerning the application of

Article 54 (art. 54) of the convention";

Having invited the Government of the United Kingdom to inform it of

the measures which it had taken in consequence of the judgment, having

regard to its obligation under Article 53 (art. 53) of the convention

to abide by the judgment;

Whereas during the examination of this case by the Committee of

Ministers the Government of the United Kingdom informed the Committee

of certain measures taken in consequence of the judgment, which

information is summarised in the appendix to this resolution,

Declares, after having taken note of the information supplied by the

Government of the United Kingdom, that it has exercised its functions

under Article 54 (art. 54) of the convention in this case.

Appendix to Resolution (76) 35

Summary of information provided by the Government of the

United Kingdom during the examination of the "Golder" case

before the Committee of Ministers

1.    In an announcement in parliament on 5 August 1975, the Home

Secretary said that in England and Wales immediate effect would be

given to the judgment by administrative action and that amendments to

the Prison Rules 1964 in force in England and Wales would be laid

before parliament.  On 6 August 1975 instructions were given for the

immediate introduction of new procedures in all prison department

establishments in England and Wales.  Henceforth where an inmate

applied in writing to the Governor for facilities to consult a

solicitor, to obtain advice about the institution of civil proceedings

or, having obtained such advice, to institute such proceedings, he

would be granted such facilities; provided that where the proposed

proceedings were against the Home Office (or any Minister or servant

of the Home Office) and arose out of or were connected with the

inmate's imprisonment, facilities would not be granted until the

inmate had ventilated his complaint through the normal internal

channels (e.g. by petition to the Home Secretary or by application to the

Board of Visitors or to a visiting officer of the Secretary of State).

This was to enable the prison management to provide an immediate

remedy.  It would only postpone the granting of facilities; the inmate

would still have a right to those facilities after the internal

investigation had been completed.

2.   Similar instructions were issued to all Scottish establishments

on 10 November 1975.  No amendments to the Statutory Rules in Scotland

would be necessary.  The Northern Ireland Office would issue shortly

similar instructions to etablishments in Northern Ireland.  No

amendments to their Statutory Rules would be necessary.

3.   The effect of these new instructions was to abolish the previous

requirement that an inmate must petition the appropriate Secretary of

State for leave to consult a solicitor about instituting civil

proceedings or to institute such proceedings, and to substitute a

simple application which would always be granted.  Governors had been

given the text of a notice to inform inmates of the new arrangements.