§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many cases the Equal Opportunities Commission have brought before a tribunal where there has been no formal complaint in each of the last five years. [14411]
§ Mrs. GillanThe Equal Opportunities Commission has no power to bring complaints to an industrial tribunal in its own name on behalf of an individual alleging sex discrimination.
531WThe Equal Opportunities Commission has such power in respect of complaints about discriminatory advertising, instructions to discriminate and pressure to discriminate. The number of cases where proceedings in these categories have been instituted are shown in the following table:
Year Number of cases 1991 4 1992 2 1993 0 1994 3 1995 6
§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what guidelines have been issued to the Equal Opportunities Commission in respect of cases where job applicants have failed to comply with the jobseeker's scheme; [14412]
(2) what guidelines have been issued to the Equal Opportunities Commission in respect of pursuing cases in the absence of a complaint (a) in general and (b) in respect of small businesses. [14410]
§ Mrs. GillanThe Equal Opportunities Commission is an independent body which decides what cases to pursue with reference to its statutory duties to work toward the elimination of discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity between men and women generally. The Government have not issued guidelines in respect of pursuing cases.