§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will list the bakeries in Northern Ireland (a) which have signed the fair employment declaration, or (b) which have refused to sign the fair employment declaration.
§ Mr. Concannon,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23 March 1979; Vol. 964, c. 789], gave the following information:
The names of bakeries which have signed the declaration are listed in the 364W register of equal opportunity employers and organisations kept by the Fair Employment Agency. The register is open to public inspection.
§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many industrial firms have been refused Government financial assistance because of their refusal to sign the fair employment declaration;
(2) what action he proposes to take against employers who refuse to sign the fair employment declaration;
(3) how many industrial undertakings which have refused to sign the fair employment declaration have, notwithstanding, received Government grants, subsidies, and other financial assistance.
§ Mr. Concannon,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23 March 1979; Vol. 964, c. 789], sgave the following information:
None. Qualifications for Government grants, subsidies and financial assistance does not depend on the signing of the fair employment declaration.
The Fair Employment Agency has the duty, under the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1976, to use its best endeavours to encourage all employers to sign the declaration. Signing is purely voluntary and I have, therefore, no powers to take action against those employers who do not sign.
The possible modification of the present arrangement under which any tenderer for a Government contract is required to sign an understanding that he will not practice religious discrimination in the performance of the contract is being discussed with the agency.