§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will consider the appointment of a member of the black and minority ethnic communities as chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality when the position becomes due for reappointment;
(2) if he will publish a breakdown of commissioners in the Commission for Racial Equality in terms of ethnic group;
(3) if he will publish a breakdown of staff in the Commission for Racial Equality in terms of grades and ethnic group;
(4) what is the period of the appointment of the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality; and when it comes up for renewal;
(5) what is the present remuneration of the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality;
(6) what representations he has received from commissioners of the Commission for Racial Equality or others regarding the number of people from black and minority ethnic groups in senior positions; and if he will make a statement;
(7) what steps he is taking to increase the representation of black and minority ethnic communities in the Commission for Racial Equality at senior grades;
(8) when he expects next to meet the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality; and what will they discuss;
(9) whether he will place in the Library a copy of the Commission for Racial Equality equal opportunities statement and policy.
§ Mr. John PattenThe chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality is appointed for five years. The282W appointment of the present chairman, whose current remuneration is £45,315 per annum, expires on 31 January 1993. When the time comes, candidates from the ethnic minority communities will undoubtedly be among those considered for this important post.
The current ethnic distribution of the commission and its staff is as follows:
Afro-Caribbean or African Asian Other White As at 30 June 1989 Commissioner 3 6.0 — 5.0 Chief executive — — — 1.0 Director — 1.0 — 3.0 Principal 1 5.0 — 9.0 SEO 8 4.0 — 23.5 HEO 24 13.0 5 16.0 EO 9 6.5 1 7.0 Graphic designer — — — 1.0 AO 16 7.0 — 4.0 AA 6 — — 2.0 Typing manager 1 — — — SPS 2 — — — PS 7 2.0 1 2.0 Typist 10 0.5 — 5.0 Messenger 1 — — 2.0 Responsibility for the staffing of the commission lies not with the Secretary of State but with the commission itself. I am placing a copy of its equal opportunities statement in the Library. The commission is, I know, keen to improve representation of the black and other ethnic minority communities at senior grades. My right hon. Friend has received three letters about the staffing of the CRE. While, like the commission itself, we hope to see more black and other ethnic minority appointments, we do not judge the effectiveness of the commission's work for racial equality simply in terms of the ethnic composition of its staff.
My right hon. Friend expects to meet the chairman shortly to discuss current issues of mutual concern. I will be meeting the chairman and other commissioners at a commission on 25 July.