§ Mr. Stephen TwiggTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to introduce ethnic monitoring in relation to academic and academic-related staff working in higher education institutions. [108276]
§ Mr. WicksAs independent bodies, higher education institutions appoint their own staff. Like other employers, they are responsible for implementing equal opportunities legislation and fair employment policies. My right hon. Friend has asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England to ensure that all higher education institutions have equal opportunity policy statements and that they are accountable for their implementation. He has also asked the Council to encourage institutions to give proper emphasis to racial equality in their policy statements.
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many higher education institutions in the United Kingdom have a racial equality policy. [108278]
§ Mr. WicksMost higher education institutions have equal opportunity policy statements which cover racial equality but the latest research which drew upon a sample of 123 responses from HEIs showed that one third had specific racial equality policies.