§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for increasing the budget allocated to the Equal Opportunities Commission.
§ Dr. SummerskillWe have no plans to increase the grant to the Equal Opportunities Commission in the current year.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many meetings of the Equal Opportunities Commission have been held since 29th December 1975;
(2) how many formal investigations have been commenced by the Equal Opportunities Commission since 29th December 1975; and what are the terms of reference of each of these investigations;
(3) how many non-discrimination notices have been issued by the Equal Opportunities Commission since 29th December 1975; and what are the terms of these notices;
(4) in respect of how many summonses taken out in a county court under the Sex Discrimination Act the Equal Opportunities Commission has received notification;
(5) how many complaints and inquiries received by the Equal Opportunities Commission have been (a) from employers concerning equal pay, (b) from employees, and trade unions concerning equal pay, (c) from employers, concerning sex discrimination in employment, (d) from employees and trade unions concerning sex discrimination in employment, (e) from the providers of education concerning sex discrimination in education, (f) from students and parents concerning sex discrimination in education, (g) from companies and others providing goods, facilities and services to the public concerning discrimination in such services, (h) from consumers of goods, facilities and services concerning discrimination in such services, (i) from companies, local authorities and others providing housing about discrimination in housing, (j) from tenants, owner-occupiers 6W and those seeking housing concerning discrimination in housing, and (k) concerning advertising;
(6) in how many cases the Equal Opportunities Commission has assisted a complainant to use the questionnaire published in regulations made under the Sex Discrimination Act; and how many of these cases concerned (a) employment, (b) goods, facilities and services, (c) housing, and (d) education;
(7) how many of the inquiries received by the Equal Opportunities Commission have been concerned with areas at present outside the scope of the Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination Acts; and, of these, how many related to (a) nationality and immigration law, (b) social security and supplementary benefits, and other financial benefits, and (c) income taxation;
(8) in how many cases, which have been the subject of an application to an industrial tribunal, the Equal Opportunities Commission has been involved, by providing legal advice on paying legal costs; and what was the outcome of these cases;
(9) in how many cases which have been the subject of a summons in the county court the Equal Opportunities Commission has been involved by providing legal advice or paying legal costs; and what was the outcome of these cases;
(10) what is the total amount spent by the Equal Opportunities Commission since 29th December 1975 in providing financial assistance for legal costs of complainants under the Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination Acts;
(11) how many applications have been received by the Equal Opportunities Commission for financial support by organisations engaged in research and education work; how many requests have been granted; and what is the total amount spent or committed since 29th December 1975 for this purpose;
(12) how many complaints and inquiries have been received by the Equal Opportunities Commission since 29th December 1975.
§ Dr. SummerskillAs these Questions relate to the day-to-day business of the Equal Opportunities Commission, I have asked the chairman to write to my hon. Friend.