§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make the holding of equal opportunity certificates issued under the fair employment legislation a condition for the award of Government contracts in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Government have decided that tenders for government contracts will not normally be accepted from firms within the scope of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1976 unless they hold an equal opportunity certificate issued by the Fair Employment Agency following the signing of the statutory declaration of principle and intent. Self-employed contractors, who are outside the scope of the fair employment legislation because they do not employ anyone, who therefore cannot obtain a certificate, and who are likely to remain so during the course of the contract, will be required to sign a declaration to that effect.
These arrangements, which will replace procedures in operation since 1971, will be implemented as soon as practicable.