HL Deb 16 October 2003 vol 653 cc134-5WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have the capacity and means to ascertain the manner in which member states of the European Union have excluded discrimination based on colour from their domestic legislation implementing the Race Directive. [HL4619]

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)

The Government do have such capacity and means, in as much as they are able to seek information from contacts in the European Commission and other European organisations.

However, legislative arrangements vary from member state to member state and each member state will have to implement the directive in the way most appropriate to its own arrangements. The position on colour in the other states does not necessarily have an impact on, or relevance to, the position in the UK.