§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the information collected about individuals through the proposed new system of ethnic monitoring in unemployment benefit offices will be kept confidential and will under no circumstances be made available to the Home Office or other Government Departments.
§ Mr. AlisonYes.
§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for Employment when the new system of ethnic monitoring in unemployment benefit offices will begin; whether consultations about it have been held with staff and ethnic minority communities; and what he expects to be the advantages of the system.
§ Mr. AlisonConsideration is being given to new arrangements for assessing the ethnic origin of unemployed people and my right hon. Friend will make a statement after the recess. Views have been sought from trade union representatives, ethnic minority organisations and the Commission for Racial Equality.