§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper:
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what decision has been made regarding the introduction of a Bill to amend the Race Relations Act.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)My Lords, I made a statement on July 26 in which I said that the Government had decided in principle to extend the Race Relations Act to deal with racial discrimination in employment, housing, insurance, credit facilities and a wider range of public places. I cannot at present add anything to that statement.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, while welcoming that statement, may I ask my noble friend, in view of, I think, a growing racial feeling in this country and the 1519 urgency of this issue, whether he will take every possible step to get the Government to introduce the Bill at the first opportunity?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, my noble friend is well aware that I cannot anticipate the gracious Speech from the Throne, and the assurance which I gave, and which I have repeated now, ought to suit his purpose.