§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, when making fresh appointments to the Commission for Racial Equality, he will ensure that all of the ethnic groups have a representative, including one of the Greeks, Cypriots, Italian, Polish and those with known large populations of immigrants settled in the United Kingdom from countries overseas.
§ Mr. RaisonNo.
§ Mr. Alexander W. Lyonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the reasons why, in making dismissals from the Commission for Racial Equality, he dismissed half the black members of the Commission and only one of the white members.
§ Mr. RaisonNo members of the Commission for Racial Equality have been dismissed. The terms of appointment of all but one of the commissioners expire on 28 April, eight of them having been offered a further term by me last year.
My right hon. Friend's concern has been to achieve a strong and well-balanced commission, and he believes that when the full list of members is announced this will be seen to have been achieved.
§ Mr. Alexander W. Lyonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whom he now intends to appoint to the vacancies in the Commission for Racial Equality.
§ Mr. RaisonWe hope to announce the names of the new members of the commission in the near future.
§ Mr. Alexander W. Lyonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not restrict the activities of the Commission for Racial Equality 101W to the strategic investigation of racial discrimination.
§ Mr. RaisonWe believe that the commission should continue both to work towards the elimination of racial discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity.
§ Mr. Alexander W. Lyonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will dismiss Mr. David Lane from the chairmanship of the Commission for Racial Equality.
§ Mr. RaisonNo. I am glad to say that Mr. Lane has accepted my right hon. Friend's invitation to continue as chairman for a further two years.