Equal Opportunities (Hansard, 28 April 1988)

§ 30. Mr. Snape
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received any representations from the United States of America concerning the Government's proposals to promote equality of opportunity in employment; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Viggers
My right hon. Friend received one written submission from an organisation in the United States of America, in response to the Government's consultative paper on equality of opportunity. American public representatives and business men have also expressed views on equality of opportunity directly to the Secretary of State and to ministerial colleagues. A White Paper on the Goverment's new proposals on fair employment is now being prepared with a view to publication in late spring.

§ 38. Mr. McCusker
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ask the Fair Employment Agency to advise him with regard to an affirmative action programme for his Department to rectify the imbalances in employment opportunities in that office as highlighted by the reports of the equal opportunities unit for the Northern Ireland Civil Service; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Stanley
The equal opportunities unit for the Northern Ireland Civil Service is already in touch with both the Fair Employment Agency and the Equal Opportunities Commission over the development of its monitoring role. The unit's method of operation and its future work programme were set out in reports published in July 1986 and December 1987.
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§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received any representations from the United States of America concerning the Government's proposals to promote equality of opportunity in employment; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Viggers
My right hon. Friend received one written submission from an organisation in the United States of America, in response to the Government's consultative paper on equality of opportunity and a number of American public representatives and business men have also expressed views directly to my right hon. Friend and to ministerial colleagues.