HL Deb 13 July 1994 vol 556 cc102-3WA
Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the reply of (the Lord Chancellor on 23rd May (col. WA 27), concerning judicial appointments and opportunities, represents a change in their policy in favour of positive discrimination.

The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)

No, it does not represent such a change in policy, which would not be appropriate. My policy continues to be to appoint to each judicial post the candidate who appears to me to be best qualified to fill it regardless of gender, ethnic origin, political affiliation or religion and appointments will accordingly continue to be made on merit.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Pursuant to the reply of the Lord Chancellor on 23rd May (col. WA 27) concerning judicial appointments and equal opportunities, what is meant by "ethnic minority origin" and which ethnic groups they include in that term.

The Lord Chancellor

The term "ethnic minority origin" is widely used and conventionally understood as a broad term relating to those groups who see themselves to be distinct from the majority in terms of ethnic identity. The term generally includes people of West Indian, Black African, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri-Lankan, African Asian or Chinese origin, and people who perceive themselves to be of some other ethnic minority origin. Consistently with this, and with arrangements which are now widely operated, for purposes including the 1991 census, applicants for judicial appointment have since October 1991 been invited to state their ethnic origin by reference to categories including white and the above classification of ethnic minority origins.