HC Deb 02 July 1986 vol 100 cc584-6W
Mr. Bell

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for which employers in Northern Ireland the Fair Employment Agency has chosen, under part II, section 13(5)(a) or (b) of the Fair Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 1976, to revoke or modify directions previously given under subsection 2(i) or 2(ii).

Dr. Boyson

I understand from the chairman of the Fair Employment Agency that while discussions on revocation or modification have taken place with some employers the agency have not formally served notice as required under section 13(6).

Mr. Bell

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many subscribers there were in Northern Ireland to the register of equal opportunity employers and organisations for each quarter since the enactment of the Fair Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 1976, broken down by standard industrial classification; how many of such subscribers previously declined to become signatories to the Fair Employment Agency's declaration of principle and intent; and how many of such subscribers have been removed from the register each quarter since the enactment of the legislation.

Dr. Boyson

The table gives the numbers of new subscribers in each quarter:

Quarter ended Number of subscribers
31 January 1977 530
30 April 1977 277
31 July 1977 155
31 October 1977 28
31 January 1978 4
30 April 1978 4
31 July 1978 93
31 October 1978 317
31 January 1979 298
30 April 1979 53
31 July 1979 3
31 October 1979 608
31 January 1980 35
30 April 1980 14
31 July 1980 9
31 October 1980 3
31 January 1981 4
30 April 1981 9
31 July 1981 6
31 October 1981 10
31 January 1982 238
30 April 1982 924
31 July 1982 367
31 October 1982 273
31 January 1983 321
30 April 1983 395
31 July 1983 187
31 October 1983 365
31 January 1984 441
30 April 1984 479
31 July 1984 165
31 October 1984 192

Quarter ended Number of subscribers
31 January 1985 251
30 April 1985 223
31 July 1985 179
31 October 1985 162
31 January 1986 195
30 April 1986 155
31 July 1986 90

I understand from the chairman that the Fair Employment Agency does not now list subscribers by standard industrial classification, a practice which ceased in 1981. A copy of the 1981 register of employers by classification is available in the Library. No figures are available for the numbers of subscribers who previously declined to become signatories to the declaration. No subscribers have been removed from the register.

Mr. Bell

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what are the employers, excluding vocational organisations, for which the Fair Employment Agency (Northern Ireland) has completed or initiated formal investigations; what findings were made in each case; and which of the employers are signatories to the Fair Employment Agency's declaration of principle and intent; and when they became signatories;

(2) if he will list the numbers of investigations carried out and complaints received by date by the Fair Employment Agency under part III, section 17(a)(b), section 18(I)(2), section 19(a)(b), section 20, section 22 and section 23; and if he will state the outcome in each case;

(3) to list those employers or departments in the case of public authorities in the Civil Service where a finding

Appeals to County Court Total Findings upheld Findings overturned Pending
Appeal by respondent under section 28(2) 12 2 6 4
Appeal by complainant under section 28(3) 6 2 1 3
Total 18 4 7 7

No cases have been referred to the High Court.

Mr. Bell

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the cases (a) in which an employer has made a compensation payment to a complainant and state the sums involved in each case, (b) the original date of each settlement as compared to the eventual date of payment and (c) specify the number of cases and amounts involved where the Fair Employment Agency has acted as a guarantor to a financial institution for an individual or paid the compensation itself, pending payment by the respondent.

Dr. Boyson

I understand from the chairman of the Fair Employment Agency that there have been 18 cases, the details of which are in the table:

Case Amount £ Settled Paid
C44/77 3,000 30 November 1982 21 December 1982
C54/77 5,500 9 June 1982 7 July 1982
C82/78 2,500 24 October 1983 23 December 1983
C107/78 750 14 September 1980 7 October 1980
C119/79 500 6 June 1981 9 March 1982

of failure to afford equality of opportunity has been made by the Fair Employment Agency, following an investigation under section 12 of the Fair Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 1976 or a finding of unlawful discrimination in the case of an individual complaint for each year since the introduction of the Fair Employment Act.

Dr. Boyson

The information sought by the hon. Member is contained in the agency's annual reports, the reports of published investigations and the register of equal opportunity employers and organisations which are in the Library.

Mr. Bell

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide estimates for the average length of time taken to conduct an investigation under (a) part II section 12 and (b) part II section 22, of the Fair Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 1976; and if he will list the numbers and type of investigation carried out, and their start and competition dates.

Dr. Boyson

I have been advised by the chairman of the Fair Employment Agency that information in the form requested is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. Some relevant information can be obtained from the agency's annual reports, which are in the Library.

Mr. Bell

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number and type of cases referred under the Fair Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 1976 to (a) the High Court, (b) the county court and (c) the number of findings upheld or overturned by each court.

Dr. Boyson

The table sets out details supplied by the Fair Employment Agency.

Case Amount £ Settled Paid
C155/80 1,500 14 September 1983 28 November 1983
C161/80 4,350 27 August 1982 22 September 1982
C171/8O 750 14 January 1982 1 March 1982
C176/80 1,500 16 November 1983 17 November 1983
C188/80 1,000 6 August 1982 26 August 1982
C195/80 1,500 19 October 1983 14 November 1983
C228/81 550 14 September 1982 16 September 1982
C230/81 1,400 26 February 1984 7 March 1984
C263/82 1,500 8 June 1984 1 August 1984
C300/83 1,000 1 May 1985 2 May 1985
C313/83 2,100 8 November 1985 13 December 1985
C321/83 350 6 December 1984 14 December 1984
C330/84 2,000 5 March 1986 10 April 1986

The Fair Employment Agency has neither acted as a guarantor nor paid compensation from its own funds in anticipation of a settlement.