§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which district councils have submitted Section 31 Reviews to the Fair Employment Commission. [27954]
§ Mr. IngramThe Fair Employment Commission has received section 31 reviews from all 26 District Councils.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which district councils did not meet the requirements of the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989 in respect of affirmative action and outreach programmes in the recent monitoring reviews; and what action will be taken in respect of them. [27955]
§ Mr. IngramThe findings of individual employers' Section 31 reviews and any action arising from these is a matter for the employers and the Fair Employment Commission (FEC). The FEC has advised me that it is its policy not to comment publicly about its discussions with individual employers and their Section 31 reviews.
The Commission has advised me that there are 15 Councils with whom it is still in discussion about their affirmative action programmes.
323W
§ Mr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to place the Policy Appraisal Fair Treatment guidelines on a statutory basis; and if she will make a statement. [28627]
§ Mr. WorthingtonThe Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights has provided a major report on Employment Equality which includes over 160 recommendations, one of which is to place PAFT on a legislative basis. The important thing is that, whatever system we have for injecting equality of opportunity into Government policy in Northern Ireland, it really is an effective one. The Government's consideration of the recommendations, including those on Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment, is well advanced and the Government's response will be given in a full document to be published shortly.
§ Mr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to meet representatives of(a) the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights, (b) the Fair Employment Commission, (c) the Equal Opportunities Commission and (d) the Commission for Racial Equality before she publishes her response to the Employment Equality Review; and if she will make a statement. [28626]
§ Mr. WorthingtonMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will meet with representatives of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights to discuss the Employment Equality Review on 20 February. It is also proposed to have a Ministerial meeting with representatives of the Fair Employment Commission prior to publication of the Government's forthcoming paper on employment equality. If appropriate, meetings may be arranged with the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland and the Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland.