Fair Employment Agency (Hansard, 12 March 1991)

§ Mr. Peter Robinson
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of discrimination against(a) Roman Catholics and (b) Protestants the Fair Employment Agency has found in each of the years since its establishment.

§ Mr. Hanley
The information is as follows:

Findings of unlawful discrimination made by Fair Employment Agency

Year Protestant Roman Catholic

¹1976–1979 1 4

1979–80 — 3

1980–81 — 2

1981–82 2 2

1982–83 — 4

1983–84 2 5

1984–85 2 6

1985–86 4 1

1986–87 — 12

1987–88 — 3

1988–89 — 6

1989–90 1 6

¹ In the first three years of the agency's existence composite figures only were produced (end March).

§ Mr. Peter Robinson
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the cost of supporting the Fair Employment Agency in each of the years since its foundation.

§ Mr. Hanley
The costs of supporting the Fair Employment Agency and Fair Employment Commission over the period 1976 to 1991 were as follows: 467W

£

1 September 1976–31 March 1977 40,850

1 April 1977–31 March 1978 81,605

1 April 1978–31 March 1979 116,000

1 April 1979–31 March 1980 154,000

1 April 1980–31 March 1981 189,000

1 April 1981–31 March 1982 201,000

1 April 1982–31 March 1983 226,300

1 April 1983–31 March 1984 228,000

1 April 1984–31 March 1985 258,000

1 April 1985–31 March 1986 288,000

1 April 1986–31 March 1987 383,000

1 April 1987–31 March 1988 512,000

1 April 1988–31 March 1989 769,900

1 April 1989–31 March 1990¹ 1,309,000

1 April 1990–31 March 1991² 1,519,000

¹ The Fair Employment Agency was renamed Fair Employment Commission by Section 1 of the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989 with effect from 1 January 1990.

² First full year of the Fair Employment Commission.

§ Mr. Peter Robinson
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many allegations of discrimination have been referred to the Fair Employment Agency in each of the years since its foundation.

§ Mr. Hanley
The information is as follows:

Complaints of Unlawful Religious and/or Political Discrimination received by the Fair Employment Agency

Year Number

¹1977 120

1978 120

³1979 120

1979–80 42

1980–81 49

1981–82 50

1982–83 33

1983–84 71

1984–85 81

1985–86 81

1986–87 86

1987–88 87

1988–89 125

²1989–90 138

¹ In the first three years of the agency's existence composite figures only were produced.

² The Fair Employment Tribunal is empowered to hear complaints of acts of alleged discrimination against individuals, on grounds of religious belief or political opinion, where those acts occurred on or after 1 January 1990. The Fair Employment Agency's power to adjudicate in such complaints relates only to those complaints where acts of alleged discrimination occurred before 1 January 1990.

³ End of March.

§ Mr. Peter Robinson
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of discrimination have been found against(a) Roman Catholic and (b) Protestant employers by the Fair Employment Agency in each of the years since its foundation.

Mr. Hanky
The commission does not keep statistics about whether employers involved in individual complaints of discrimination are perceived to be Protestant or Roman Catholic.

Findings of unlawful discrimination made by Fair Employment Agency
Year	Protestant	Roman Catholic
¹1976–1979	1	4
1979–80	—	3
1980–81	—	2
1981–82	2	2
1982–83	—	4
1983–84	2	5
1984–85	2	6
1985–86	4	1
1986–87	—	12
1987–88	—	3
1988–89	—	6
1989–90	1	6
¹ In the first three years of the agency's existence composite figures only were produced (end March).

	£
1 September 1976–31 March 1977	40,850
1 April 1977–31 March 1978	81,605
1 April 1978–31 March 1979	116,000
1 April 1979–31 March 1980	154,000
1 April 1980–31 March 1981	189,000
1 April 1981–31 March 1982	201,000
1 April 1982–31 March 1983	226,300
1 April 1983–31 March 1984	228,000
1 April 1984–31 March 1985	258,000
1 April 1985–31 March 1986	288,000
1 April 1986–31 March 1987	383,000
1 April 1987–31 March 1988	512,000
1 April 1988–31 March 1989	769,900
1 April 1989–31 March 1990¹	1,309,000
1 April 1990–31 March 1991²	1,519,000
¹ The Fair Employment Agency was renamed Fair Employment Commission by Section 1 of the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989 with effect from 1 January 1990.
² First full year of the Fair Employment Commission.

Complaints of Unlawful Religious and/or Political Discrimination received by the Fair Employment Agency
Year	Number
¹1977	120
1978	120
³1979	120
1979–80	42
1980–81	49
1981–82	50
1982–83	33
1983–84	71
1984–85	81
1985–86	81
1986–87	86
1987–88	87
1988–89	125
²1989–90	138
¹ In the first three years of the agency's existence composite figures only were produced.
² The Fair Employment Tribunal is empowered to hear complaints of acts of alleged discrimination against individuals, on grounds of religious belief or political opinion, where those acts occurred on or after 1 January 1990. The Fair Employment Agency's power to adjudicate in such complaints relates only to those complaints where acts of alleged discrimination occurred before 1 January 1990.
³ End of March.