§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she will take to ensure that the proposed new Equality Commission, addresses the concerns of the(a) South Asian and (b) Chinese communities in Northern Ireland. [42350]
§ Mr. WorthingtonThe White Paper 'Partnership for Equality' invited comments by 12 June on a proposal for the establishment of a new Equality Commission to 185W take over the functions now exercised by the Fair Employment Commission for Northern Ireland, the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland, the Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland and the Disability Council for Northern Ireland. The existing obligations of the Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland and the other equality bodies to combat discrimination and promote equality of opportunity within their respective fields would be fully maintained in the new Commission. Furthermore, the White Paper has proposed that an Equality Commission would have a significant new role in assisting the public sector to fulfil a statutory obligation to provide equality of opportunity and good relations between people of different racial groups.