HL Deb 25 April 1967 vol 282 cc436-8

2.51 p.m.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, and if so when, legislation is to be introduced in accordance with the evidence of the Political and Economic Planning Report on racial discrimination.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)

My Lords, the Government will review the need for and the practicability of strengthening the existing law in the light of the P.E.P. Report, the Report of the Race Relations Board which will be laid before Parliament shortly, and any other available evidence about the extent of discrimination in this country and the effectiveness of the Race Relations Act.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask him whether the Government will pay attention to the urgency of this issue, which has been emphasised not only in the P.E.P. Report, and by the Committee for Commonwealth Immigrants, of which the most reverend Primate the Archbishop of Canterbury is Chairman, but also in the Report of the Race Relations Board which is now in the hands of the Minister? Particularly in view of the position of the school-leavers, will he urge that this should be done very urgently in the new Session of Parliament?

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, I have already given in my original Answer an assurance that the Government will most carefully consider not only the P.E.P. Report, which we regard as a very valuable contribution to the information available on this subject, but all other relevant evidence. We are anxious to deal with this problem, but it would not be proper to deal with it until careful consideration has been given to all the evidence and, I must emphasise, when that has been given, to the practicability of introducing legislation to deal with any need that may be found to exist.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he will consider. when the Report of the Race Relations Board is received, giving time in this House for discussion of the Motion on this subject which stands in my name on the Order Paper under, "No Day Named"?

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, the Business of the House is not a matter for me. Obviously, the noble Lord the Leader of the Liberal Party is in a much better position than I am to make representations on this subject, when the Report has been published in a few days' time.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether I may have his full support when I make representations to his noble friend who is sitting on his right?

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, I disagree with my noble friend the Government Chief Whip, that it will not do any good. But the noble Lord will have my full support in the matter.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, am I to understand, when my noble friend says that the Government are going to inquire into the question of discrimination, that they will also include discrimination on grounds of sex in regard to equal pay, which is equally immoral?

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, in this matter the Government will have regard to any evidence of discrimination on the grounds of colour, race or religion.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, I find it very difficult to understand why the Government pontificate on this aspect of inequality and discrimination and exploitation, and fail to tackle the, as I say, equally immoral discrimination on grounds of sex with regard to equal pay. Will my noble friend give me a simple answer, because, as he knows, the trade unions supported the principle in 1881?

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, we are dealing with this question of racial discrimination, and I am well aware of the attitude of the Trades Union Congress to the possibility of legislation on that subject. I am sorry if my noble friend thought I was pontificating on this matter, but I assure her that I shall most certainly make representations to my right honourable friend on the point that she has raised, and, indeed, will give my own personal support in this matter.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

I thank my noble friend very much.

LORD CONESFORD

My Lords, if the P.E.P. Report mentioned in the Question may be of importance in considering legislation, could it be made available, perhaps in the Printed Paper Office?

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, I can most certainly consider that, or at least see whether it is possible to have it made available in the Library.