HC Deb 22 January 1986 vol 90 cc217-8W
Sir John Farr

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the total number of investigations implemented by the Commission for Racial Equality under section 48 of the Race Relations Act 1976; and how many of that number were required by him to be undertaken.

Mr. Waddington

The commission has initiated 49 such investigations. All were undertaken on the initiative of the commission.

Sir John Farr

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he was consulted by the Commission for Racial Equality about the terms of reference of its investigation under sections 48 and 49 of the Race Relations Act 1976 into recruitment into chartered accountancy and, in particular, about the criteria as to the number of partners and size used to select the firms involved; what information he has as to the total number of firms involved; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waddington

The commission is not required to consult my right hon. Friend about the terms of reference of formal investigations which it undertakes. It did not do so on this occasion. I understand from the commission that 49 firms are to be asked to complete a full questionnaire, and that 230 firms are to be asked to complete a very much shorter one.

Sir John Farr

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost to (a) public funds and (b) industry of complying with the requests of the Commission for Racial Equality in relation to its formal investigation under section 49(3) of the Race Relations Act 1976 into recruitment into chartered accountancy.

Mr. Waddington

The commission estimates that its own costs arising from the conduct of this investigation are likely to be about £20,000. It is not possible to estimate the external costs, but the commission is conscious of the need to avoid unnecessary expenditure by firms and other bodies involved in its inquiries and intends to keep its requests for information to the minimum necessary for the purposes of the investigation.

Sir John Farr

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he required the Commission for Racial Equality to commence a formal investigation into recruitment into chartered accountancy under sections 48 and 49 of the Race Relations Act 1976; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waddington

This formal investigation was undertaken on the initiative of the commission.