§ 11. Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the Local Government Bill to allow local authorities to use contract compliance to tackle sex discrimination and discrimination against people with disabilities.
§ Mr. McAllionThe Minister has already conceded the principle of contract compliance in respect of racial discrimination because of the duties imposed on local authorities by section 71 of the Race Relations Act 1976 to promote equality of opportunity. I note that in an amendment made in the other place yesterday to the Local Government Bill the Minister has now been forced to accept the principle of contract compliance in respect of people with disabilities. Why, therefore, will he not accept the same principle in respect of discrimination on grounds of sex? Is the hon. Gentleman saying to the House that there is no discrimination against women in employment —if he is, he should look at the Benches around him—or is he saying that there is discrimination but Ministers do not care sufficiently about it to do anything?
§ Mr. ChopeWe shall carefully consider the implications of the amendment approved yesterday in the other place. Local authorities are part of the enforcement processes only in relation to racial discrimination by virtue of section 71 of the Race Relations Act 1976. That is recognised in the Local Government Bill, and that is why that provision is dealt with differently from sex discrimination.
§ Mr. MarlowIs my hon. Friend confident that the Government can devise a series of stock questions on 972 racial discrimination which will not undermine the main purposes of the Bill, which is to prevent political interference by local authorities — Labour local authorities—in proper commercial activities? If my hon. Friend is confident, perhaps he could let us into the secret.
§ Mr. ChopeI am confident about that. Indeed, some questions have been prepared and are the subject of consultation at the moment.
§ Dr. CunninghamWhy do the Government not accept the representations of the Equal Opportunities Commission, which has made it clear that, in respect of discrimination against women in employment, it would like the Government to take exactly the same approach as they are taking under the Race Relations Act 1976? Should not the Government now accept the defeat in the House of Lords and make it clear that, in respect of people with disabilities, they will change the legislation accordingly?
§ Mr. ChopeBoth this House and the other place have rejected the arguments of the Equal Opportunities Commission. If the commission decides, as a result of consultations on its document, to press my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary for changes to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, which includes a section 71-type duty, the Government will give careful consideration to such a proposal.