§ 18. Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to implement his proposals to extend the Race Relations Act 1976 to all public services. [74594]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienMy right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in his Statement to the House on 24 February 1999,Official Report, columns 389–403, on the report of the inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence, that the Government accepted the recommendation in Sir William Macpherson's report that the police service should be brought within the Race Relations Act 1976. My right hon. Friend also announced that we intend going further by extending the Act to cover all the public services and that we are developing proposals to that end.
The intention of the Home Secretary is to do so as quickly as possible. Parliamentary time is, of course, limited and the final decision belongs to the Leader of the House.