§ The Marquess of Ailesburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they noted the content of the ITV programme "World in Action" on 29th June; and whether a local authority commits an offence if it discriminates against an applicant for a job (in this case as a roadsweeper) on political grounds.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Employment (Viscount Ullswater)The Government have noted the content of the programme. Under the sex and race equality and employment protection legislation, local authorities, like other employers, must not discriminate against job applicants on grounds of race, sex, because they are married, or on grounds of trade union membership or non-membership. Subject to other employment law, Section 7 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 requires that all appointments to local authority posts must be made on merit. Otherwise, local authorities are free to adopt the selection criteria they believe best meet their needs.