§ Mr. Philip Hollandasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report in respect of the Commission for Racial Equality the number of staff currently employed, the cost of staff remuneration and the number of meetings held in the past 12 months by the appointed members.
§ Mr. RaisonOn 1 December the commission employed 214 staff; expenditure on staff remuneration in 1981–82 was £2,331,210—subject to audit. I understand that during the past 12 months there have been 12 meetings of the commission and 65 meetings of committees or working parties. In addition, commissioners have attended a variety of ad hoc meetings.
§ Mr. Philip Hollandasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what practical steps he has taken to establish that the Commission for Racial Equality is doing its work effectively, efficiently and with economy and that it continues to fulfil a useful purpose in accordance with the requirement stated in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments."
§ Mr. RaisonThe commission's work was reviewed by the Home Affairs Committee in a report—HC46–1—published in December 1981 The Government endorsed the Committee's conclusion that there remained a need for
a vigorous institution dedicated to the eradication of unlawful discrimination and the promotion of good race relations".The Committee made a number of recommendations intended to make the commission a more efficient and effective organisation. Some of these have already been implemented. Others are being followed up by the commission and the Department. In accordance with the guide for Departments further reviews of the commission's work will be conducted from time to time.