HC Deb 27 May 1988 vol 134 cc381-2W
Mr. Janner

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken to remedy past inequalities in employment practices in his Department, in compliance with the codes of the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission, respectively.

Mr. Stanley

The Government are fully committed to providing equality of employment opportunities for all sections of the community in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. They have established an equal opportunities unit which has to date published two reports, copies of which are in the Library. The reports give details of the measures taken or to be pursued in developing the monitoring system, implementing a programme of action and carrying out related research.

As for the home Civil Service element of the Northern Ireland Office, the Civil Service policy statements on equal opportunities have been circulated to staff, and equal opportunities policies continue to be rigorously implemented. Thirteen per cent. of staff in London come from the ethnic minority groups, and 56 per cent. are women.

Department of the Environment (NI) in relation to the consideration of applications for grant aid for drainage work which may affect areas of special scientific interest.

Mr. Needham

Before submitting details of proposals for grant-aid on drainage works in areas of special scientific interest to the Department of Agriculture (NI) the landowner is required to consult with and obtain the consent of the countryside and wildlife branch of the Department of the Environment (NI). The Department of Agriculture (NI) will not accept proposals for grant-aid which have not obtained the consent of the Department of the Environment (NI).

Mr. Clifford Forsythe

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list, with dates, all notifications made to the Department of the Environment (NI) under article 25 of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands Order 1985, of proposals to carry out drainage in areas of special scientific interest, indicating the response of the Department in each case.

Mr. Needham

Under article 25 of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland has received the following notifications to carry out drainage in areas of special scientific interest. In each case the notifications relate to a specified portion of the area and not to the entire site: