§ Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken since the coming into effect of the code of the Commission for Racial Equality on a April, to ensure compliance by his Department and, in particular, with the recommendations in respect of ethnic monitoring and of positive action, respectively.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsMy Department's policies and procedures were reviewed before CRE's code of practice became operative, and additional guidance and instructions are being issued. An equal opportunity officer has also been designated within the Department. We have not carried out any ethnic monitoring. We shall consider further action once the results of surveys in the north-west and Avon announced by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Treasury, in the House on 24 March 1983, at column461, have been evaluated. The kind of positive action which the code recommends can be undertaken only where under-representation can be demonstrated.