§ Mr. Bellasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the numbers, type and date of cases under the Fair Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 1976 in which a section 42 certificate has been issued since 1976; and if he will state the religion of the complainant and name of the respondent in each case.
§ Mr. ScottThe recorded number of section 42 certificates signed by Northern Ireland Office Ministers in each year since 1976 is as follows:
193W
Number 1976 0 1977 1 1978 3 1979 0 1980 1 1981 3 1982 0 1983 2 1984* 3 1985 1 1986† 1 * These three certificates proved to be defective and three fresh certificates were issued in July 1985. † To 25 June. All of the complainants involved are believed to have been Roman Catholics. Nine cases involved either the Northern Ireland Office or Northern Ireland Departments, whilst the other six involved public bodies in Northern Ireland.
Section 42 certificates may also be signed by other Government Ministers with departmental responsibilities in Northern Ireland.