HC Deb 18 January 1985 vol 71 cc234-5W
Mr. Cohen

asked the Prime Minister if she will review the list of public bodies which under section 75 of the Race Relations Act and Statutory Instrument No. 218, 1984, are exempt from the other provisions of the Race Relations Act; and if she will make a statement.

The Prime Minister

This list of bodies "prescribed" under section 75(5) of the Act is reviewed from time to time. Prescription does not authorise the bodies to discriminate in their employment policies other than to restrict employment to those meeting the nationality requirements for the service of the Crown. These requirements are widely drawn to include not only British citizens but also Commonwealth citizens and citizens of the Irish Republic. Most states operate similar rules and our practice is probably more liberal than most in not restricting entry to British citizens and in applying the rules to a relatively small area of the public service as a whole.