§ 45. Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in his proposed legislation on public sector purchasing, he will consider the desirability of including provision that purchasing authorities should refuse to make contracts with any supplier who practices 297W racial or religious discrimination in employment policies.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThe Government have been considering how their influence as a major purchaser of goods and services can best be used in the interests of discouraging racial discrimination. We have decided that the Standard Conditions of Government Contracts should be amended so as to require contractors in the United Kingdom to conform to the provisions of the Race Relations Act 1968 relating to discrimination in employment. Government Departments will be prepared to withhold contracts from firms practising racial discrimination in employment. Further legislation is not contemplated.