§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that Government contracts are placed with employers who have endorsed and are enforcing guidelines recently drawn up by the Commission for Racial Equality.
§ Mr. RaisonGovernment contractors, like other employers, have a responsibility to comply with the general provisions of the Race Relations Act 1976 and this is reinforced by a standard clause which has formed part of all these contracts since 1969. If the reference to guidelines relates to the code of practice recently published by the Commission for Racial Equality, this is a draft issued in accordance with the provisions of section 47 of the Act for the purpose of consultation.