§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper. I may mention that the Question relates more properly to the Act of 1968 rather than to the Act of 1965.
The Question was as follows :
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will be able to report decisions on the proposals made by the Race Relations Board for amendments to the Race Relations Act 1965.
§ BARONESS YOUNGMy Lords, I cannot at present add to the Written Answer that my noble friend gave to a Question from the noble Lord on July 4. The Board's Annual Report raises some important matters which require careful thought. It would not be realistic to give a definite date for the conclusion of our deliberations, but we are actively considering the various points made.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness for that Answer may I ask her, first, whether when the Race Relations Board was established it was not regarded as a pioneering experiment? Has not the Board after three years' experience made any new proposals? Would the noble Baroness agree that it has served as a code of conduct and conciliation in individual cases, but the Board is now seeking power to prevent discrimination?
§ BARONESS YOUNGMy Lords, I am sure that we should all agree that the Race Relations Board has done some good and valuable work. I feel that it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this particular moment on the new suggestions that the Board has made in its Annual Report, as we have had 470 the Report for only just over three weeks. However, I can assure the noble Lord that my right honourable friend is considering this matter with all the seriousness that it deserves.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, again thanking the noble Baroness, may I ask her whether she could seek to influence the Minister to introduce a Bill during the early part of next Session, which is not very busy—or would she he encouraging me to introduce, for the eleventh time, a Private Member's Bill on the subject?
§ BARONESS YOUNGMy Lords, I am sure that my right honourable friend will take note of the point that the noble Lord, Lord Brockway, has made. The noble Lord is quite right in saying that the suggestions of the Race Relations Board would require legislation, but this is a matter on which I do not feel that I can comment at this moment.