§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his appointments to public bodies and non-departmental public bodies are subject to investigation by the Fair Employment Commission.
§ Sir John WheelerThe vast majority of appointments made by my right hon. and learned Friend to public bodies in Northern Ireland do not constitute employment within the meaning of the provisions of the Fair Employment Acts, and would therefore lie outside the scope of the investigative powers of the Fair Employment Commission. However, a small number of public appointments, where the chairman of the public body concerned is also the chief executive, would come within the investigative powers of the Fair Employment Commission. Appointments which do not fall within the scope of the Fair Employment Acts are subject to the anti-discrimination provisions of section 19 of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.