HC Deb 24 May 1984 vol 60 c556W
Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 14 May, Official Report, columns 63–64, whether he will now take steps following the issuing of copies of the Commission for Racial Equality's code of practice in February to ensure that the recommendations in that code including the recommendation for ethnic monitoring are carried out within his Department.

Mr. Lee

My Department will draw on the useful guidance and recommendations contained in the Commission for Racial Equality's code of practice to the fullest extent necessary to provide equal opportunities for all racial groups in its employment. Further action in respect of ethnic monitoring will be considered when the results of the surveys carried out in the north-west and Avon have been evaluated.

Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will place in the Library a copy of the Civil Service race relations policy statement to be published for the information of all staff in his Department next month.

Mr. Lee

The policy statement to be published for the information of all staff in the MOD follows exactly the statement contained in the report entitled "Race Relations: A Review of Policies and Procurement in the Civil Service", copies of which were placed in the library as announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Civil Service in his written answer on 21 December 1983 at column277.

Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 14 May, Official Report, columns 63–64, whether the responsibility of the equal opportunities officers to act as a focal point within his Department for the promulgation and monitoring of equal opportunities policies will include the institution of an ethnic monitoring exercise, as recommended in the code of the Commission for Racial Equality.

Mr. Lee

As I said in my answer to the hon. and learned Member on 26 April 1984 at column596, further action in respect of ethnic monitoring in this Department will be considered when the results of the surveys carried out in the north west and Avon have been evaluated.