HC Deb 15 December 1986 vol 107 cc414-5W
Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what progress has been made by the King Edward's fund task force on equal opportunities in the National Health Service; and when the initial findings of the task force are expected to be published;

(2) what actions he proposes to take to ensure the implementation of equal opportunities policies in the National Health Service;

(3) if he will list (a) the health authorities which have no comprehensive equal opportunities policies; and (b) the health authorities which have taken no steps to translate policies into effective programmes of action.

Mrs. Currie

Health authorities are responsible for meeting the requirements of the Race Relations Act and the Commission for Racial Equality's code of practice. It was our concern whether adequate progress was being made by health authorities in implementing equal opportunities policies which led my right hon. Friend to invite the King Edward's fund to set up the task force.

The task force has the Government's full support and is supported by funding from the Department. It is intended to have a three-year life. Its programme of work will include the establishment of a clearing house for information, and work in depth with a small number of health authorities who are at different stages in the implementation of equal opportunities policies. It will be reporting to the King Edward's fund.

Health authorities were advised when the task force was established that they should not wait for the task force's advice but should press ahead in accordance with the commission's code of practice. We have no central information on the extent to which individual health authorities have done so.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services following the comments of Sir Ralph Milner-Brown on behalf of the employment appeal tribunal in the matter of Dr. M. Noone v. North-West Thames regional health authority, if he will issue an amended form of the circular HC(78)36 attaching the 1984 code of practice from the Commission for Racial Equality.

Mrs. Currie

The code of practice was drawn to the attention of health service management when it was published by the Commission for Racial Equality. In May this year, the Department wrote to all general managers, announcing the establishment of the King Edward's fund task force, and reminding health authorities that they should be taking action in accordance with the Commission's code of practice.

We do not, at this stage, see any need to further reinforce the guidance we have given to health authorities.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the cost of appeals by the South-West Thames and North-West Thames regional health authorities following the industrial tribunal's decisions on racial discrimination in consultant appointments.

Mrs. Currie

This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member way wish therefore to contact the Chairman of North-West Thames and South-West Thames regional health authorities.