HC Deb 18 March 1993 vol 221 cc360-1W
13. Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the workings of the mechanisms in Northern Ireland to attempt to eliminate problems of employment discrimination betweeen Catholics and Protestants.

Mr. Atkins

The Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 set up the Fair Employment commission and the Fair Employment tribunal. It also placed new statutory responsibilities on employers including a requirement to register with the commission, to monitor the composition of their work forces and to review their employment practices and procedures at least every three years. I am pleased to report that the commission and the tribunal are working well and employers have complied with their requirements to a very satisfactory degree.