HC Deb 16 February 1996 vol 271 cc738-9W
Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what monitoring of the ethnic origin of staff is being undertaken by national health service employers; and what reports he intends to publish based on that information; [15608]

(2) what measures are planned to monitor the steps taken by national health service employers in respect of levels of race discrimination following the Policy Studies Institute report, "Nursing in a Multi-Racial Society", commissioned by his Department; [15665]

(3) what measures are in hand to monitor the steps being taken by trusts to improve equal opportunities under the enabling agreements recently introduced in the national health service. [15666]

Mr. Malone

I attach great importance to achieving equality of opportunity for all staff in the NHS. Information on the ethnic origin of NHS employees is collected annually and published in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin for "NHS Hospital and Community Health Services Non-Medical Staff in England", which will be placed in the Library shortly and separately for "NHS Medical and Dental Staff', also issued annually, copies of which are available in the Library.

I have taken seriously the issues raised by the Policy Studies Institute report on "Nursing in a Multi-Ethnic NHS" and refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 18 January 1996, Official Report, column 687.

The enabling agreements of the General Whitley Council are for management and staff to implement locally in accordance with particular local needs. I have no plans to monitor these arrangements.

However, the NHS Executive's director of human resources recently reminded NHS chief executives and general managers—in EL(96)4—of their personal responsibility for progressing equal opportunities issues.

Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he intends to take following the recent industrial tribunal case McCarthy v. British Nursing Association. [15667]

Mr. Malone

This matter does not concern a national health service employee. However, the NHS Executive is strongly committed to equal opportunities in NHS employment and will be studying the consequences for the NHS of any further legal action in this case.