§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will put individuals complaining of unlawful racial discrimination in employment (contrary to the Race Relations Act 1976) in the same position as individuals complaining of unlawful sex discrimination in employment (contrary to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975), by ensuring either that the power conferred upon Ministers by Section 69(2) of the Race Relations Act 1976 to issue a certificate is no longer exercised so as to block effective access to industrial tribunals on conclusively asserted grounds of national security, or by creating an effective right of appeal against the issue of such a certificate; and if not, why not.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)We have no evidence to suggest that Section 69(2) is causing difficulties and we have no plans to change the law.