§ 45. Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for Employment what new initiatives he now proposes to secure equality of promotional opportunity for coloured men and women in employment in England and Wales.
§ Mr. John GrantMy Department's Race Relations Employment Advisory Service is to be expanded over the next six months by the appointment of 12
184W1973, November 1975 and November 1977. Information for November 1974 and November 1976 is not available because of industrial action by some staff in the Department of Employment Group.
the total of men or women registered unemployed at that date.
§ Mr. GoldingThe following table gives the information available at 13th October. The analysis does not provide separate information for the periods specified in excess of 52 weeks.
additional advisers, bringing the total number to 26. Through the work of these advisers my Department encourages the adoption of equal opportunity policies in employment; promotion based on merit alone is a central feature of such policies. My Department is also co-operating with the Commission for Racial Equality in these matters. I have also set up a Race Relations Employment Advisory Group under my chairmanship which includes in its membership representatives from the Commission for Racial Equality, the CBI, the TUC, local authorities, the ACAS, the MSC and members of the ethnic minorities. This group, which held its first meeting in October, intends to concentrate its work on finding practical solutions to specific problems but its overriding aim will be to encourage the wider acceptance of equal opportunity in employment.