§ Mr. TrimbleTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on racial discrimination in employment.
Mr. JacksonThe Government are resolutely opposed to racial discrimination and sees fair treatment between citizens regardless of race as fundamental to a healthy and balanced society. Racial discrimination is morally wrong. Moreover, in employment it makes bad business sense by potentially excluding the best person for the job.
Progress has been made in eliminating racial discrimination. In that period from 1984 the unemployment rates for ethnic minorities came down faster than those for white people. There is also evidence that ethnic minority people have moved into higher level occupations over the past 20 years, and there has been a steady increase 201W in the number of ethnic minority people taking up the challenge and opportunities of self-employment. However, more remains to be done to achieve equal opportunities in employment for these groups.
The Race Relations Act 1976, which applies to Great Britain, provides the legislative framework for the elimination of racial discrimination. The Commission for Racial Equality works to this end and has published a code of practice in employment.
The Department—through the employment service and training and enterprise councils—seeks to ensure equality of opportunity, irrespective of race, in all its programmes and services. In addition, the Department's race relations employment advisory service provides advice and guidance to employers on the introduction and implementation of policies and practices aimed at eliminating racial discrimination in employment.