HC Deb 18 June 1992 vol 209 cc642-3W
Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list under the residuary method of determining an employee's community affiliation (DE code of practice)(a) those names to be regarded as Protestants, and those to be regarded as Roman Catholic, (b) those sporting and leisure pursuits to be so regarded, (c) those clubs or societies, membership of which would indicate such distinction, (d) those qualifications, examinations and educational clauses which indicate a Protestant or Roman Catholic community affiliation and (e) which occupations would indicate Protestant community affiliation and which would indicate Roman Catholic community affiliation; and if he will publish this list.

Mr. Atkins

It is not possible to compile a list as requested. The residuary method of monitoring allows an employer to consider a range of possible indicators of community affiliation and then to treat the employee, or job applicant, as belonging to the community with which the totality of the information shows he has a connection, or has the stronger connection. This is a matter for the individual judgment of the employer in each particular case.

Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of whether the breakdown of Protestants and Roman Catholics in each district council area, based on all those aged 15 to 64 years, is an accurate reflection of the economically active work force.

Mr. Atkins

Estimates from aggregated 1990 and 1991 labour force survey (LFS) data indicate that in 17 out of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland, the religious composition of the economically active population is consistent with the revised 1981 census of population figures for the religious composition of persons aged 15 to 64. In the remaining nine district council areas, the LFS estimates suggest that the Catholic proportion of the economically population is higher than that derived from 1981 census figures based on the population aged 15 to 64.

I understand that the Fair Employment Commission will be publishing, in the near future, LFS estimates on the religious composition of the economically active population in district council areas.

Data on the religious composition of the economically active population in each district council area will be contained in the Northern Ireland census 1991 summary report to be published in the autumn.

Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what monitoring has been done to examine any imbalance in the determining of community affiliation as a result of the numbers of Roman Catholics attending controlled or integrated schools.

Mr. Atkins

Research has shown that, particularly at primary school level, the number of Roman Catholics attending controlled schools does not have any significant effect on employers' monitoring statistics. Integrated schools are not classified for monitoring purposes.