§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made within his Department on equal opportunities matters. [21527]
§ Mr. HowardMy Department is committed to ensuring that all staff are treated fairly and have an equal opportunity to contribute to the office's work. This stems not only from considerations of equity, but from the need to ensure that the Department makes the best use of the qualities that its staff possess.
To this end, the Department works towards implementing the three programmes for action produced by the Cabinet Office—Office of Public Service and Science—which cover issues of race, gender and disability and provide a framework for departmental policy on equal opportunities.
§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he hopes to achieve in his Department over the next three months to push forward the declaration signed in October 1994 at the Vienna conference in preparation for the fourth UN conference on women; and if he will agree to incorporate a section on equal opportunities in his Department's annual report. [21529]
§ Mr. HowardThe Government are committed to the principles set out in the regional platform for action388W agreed at the preparatory conference in Vienna for the fourth UN conference on women. We have taken these forward through a wide range of programmes and initiatives and will continue to do so.
Material on equal opportunities is incorporated in the Home Office annual report each year.
§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the gender assessment being prepared by his Department. [21528]
§ Mr. HowardThe Department's policy, in line with guidance issued in 1992 by the ministerial group on women's issues, is that policy proposals should ensure that unlawful or unjustifiable sex or race discrimination does not occur and that similar principles apply to people with disabilities, older people or ex-offenders. This scrutiny is part of a continuous process, as part of policy advice to Ministers.
§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which Minister in his Department has responsibility for equal opportunities issues. [21526]
§ Mr. HowardI have overall responsibility for personnel matters in the Department, including equal opportunities for staff. Other Ministers deal with equal opportunities issues as they arise within the subject areas for which they are responsible.