§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Local Government Staff Commission is taking to ensure that it conforms to the Fair Employment Acts 1976 and 1989; and what measures it is taking to advise local councils in relation to their responsibilities under the Acts.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Local Government Staff Commission has registered with the Fair Employment Commission, adopted a policy statement on development and training and, in accordance with the statutory requirements, monitors its staff in relation to their perceived religious composition.
The staff commission has taken the lead role in ensuring that councils, as employers, fulfil their responsibilites under the Acts. It has, inter alia, established a computerised personnel record system in all 26 councils to ensure that they are properly equipped to provide the statutory monitoring returns on their work force; prepared and issued to councils a comprehensive package of material on equality of opportunity practices and continues to revise and update this; met, and maintains contact with, the Fair Employment Conmmission to discuss matters relating to fair employment and acts as an interface between councils and the Fair Employment Commission; and established a working party representative of local government interests to review the employment and promotion procedures adopted by all councils to ensure that they fully accord with the principles of fair employment.