RACE DISCRIMINATION (Hansard, 12 April 1960)

§ Mr. A. Fenner Brockway (Eton and Slough)

I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make illegal discrimination to the detriment of any person on the grounds of colour, race and religion in the United Kingdom. This is the fifth time that I have introduced this Bill. On all former occasions the House has given the Bill a First Reading, but when the Bill has reached Second Reading some hon. Members have not been so acquiescent. I hope that on this occasion all hon. Members, who, I believe, accept the principle of the Bill, will co-operate in securing its passage through the House.

When I decided to ask permission to bring in the Bill today, the question of racial discrimination did not occupy the dominant position which it now does in the political scene. It was a distinguished white South African who first encouraged me to introduce the Bill. I will not mention his name, because that might be regarded as evidence against him. He said that if this country wishes to influence that Dominion to practise racial equality, the best step we could take would be to pass legislation in this House against racial discrimination in Britain.

I appreciate that racial prejudice in this country is much less than in many other countries. Tolerance, not only of other people's opinions, but of other people's different backgrounds and racial origins, is a matter for the pride of all of us in Britain. But racial prejudice does exist, and it is wider than many suspect.

My Bill would deal not only with discrimination on the grounds of colour, but also of race and religion. It would include the Jewish race and the Jewish religion. I have been disturbed by the extent of prejudice against that race and their religion.

Racial prejudice in this country is aggravated by social conditions, and particularly housing conditions. I recognise that it cannot be overcome by legislation. Fundamentally, if racial prejudice is to be removed from our minds, it must be done by education, experience, and the growth of civilised conditions and opinions. There is, however, a definite place for legislation if 1089 we sincerely accept the principle that there should be racial equality in our land.

My Bill would limit legislation to public places and institutions and to social contracts. It would make discrimination illegal in the following public places and institutions: hotels, common lodging houses, restaurants, cafes and public houses, dance halls and places of entertainment. When I last introduced the Bill, it was urged that hotels were already covered. They are covered in relation to accommodation, but they are not covered in relation to their restaurants and bars. That is the first proposal of my Bill.

Secondly, the Bill would make illegal any discrimination in a lease for accommodation. I recognise that the most common practice of colour prejudice in this country is in relation to private lodgings. I have not included them in the Bill, because, in my view, it would be wrong to say that any man or woman must take another person into his or her home if he or she does not wish to do so on the ground of colour or for any other reason. But it is a different thing if it is a lease for the accommodation of a house or flat. We have the right to say that this prejudice shall not debar anyone from renting a house or flat which will not interfere with the private life of any other family.

1090 Thirdly, the Bill would apply to employment or promotion in employment. I will give one example of the need in that respect. Last week, the President of the National Union of Students, Mr. Dennis Grennan, said: Racial discrimination does not affect students in South Africa only. Considerable numbers of overseas students studying in Britain are experiencing discrimination as they seek vacation work. Almost every week the Vacation Work Department of the Union have to refuse to provide students to employers who will take only white students. Last Friday, the House unanimously deplored racial discrimination in another land. I submit that we have no right to do that unless we end discrimination, so far as we can, in public places and social contracts in our own land I ask leave to present my Bill.