HC Deb 20 July 1994 vol 247 c227W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers have sought guidance from the Race Relations Employment Advisory Service in each year since 1991–92.

Miss Widdecombe

The Race Relations Employment Advisory Service does not keep records on the number of inquiries it receives. It has made the following advisory visits to employers: 1,113, 1991–92; 1,075, 1992–93; 1,177, 1993–94; and 320 in the currrent operational year, from 1 April to 30 June 1994.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what operational plans he has for the Race Relations Employment Advisory Service for the years 1994–95 and 1995–96.

Miss Widdecombe

In common with all parts of the Employment Department, the Race Relations Employment Advisory Service agrees an annual operational plan with its departmental line management. All such plans run from April to March and seek to implement the Employment Department's objectives.

The aim of RREAS for 1994–95 is to provide advice and guidance on racial quality in employment to those employers who are either unaware of or initially resistant to equal opportunities or at an early stage in the development of an effective policy and require expert strategic advice and guidance in taking it forward.

Plans for the service for 1995–96 will be agreed early in 1995.