§ Mr. Jim MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the investigation of the Northern Irish Civil Service carried out by the Fair Employment Agency, as to why civil servants assisted in the investigations as specialists and why the original recommendations and conclusions of the report were altered; and if he will place copies of the reports of the original consultants in the Library.
§ Mr. StanleyMatters connected with the preparation of reports arising from investigations under section 12 of the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1976 are the responsibility of the agency, subject to the provisions of that Act. Under Schedule 5 to the Act, the agency must afford those being investigated an opportunity to comment on the matters being investigated and to furnish oral or other evidence respecting them. The Civil Service, as it was fully entitled to do, responded to the opportunity which was thus afforded it.