HL Deb 15 October 1996 vol 574 cc188-9WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish an evaluation of the impact of the Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment Guidelines in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Denton of Wakefield

The Government publish annual reports on the implementation of the PAFT initiative in Northern Ireland. The Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights, in the context of a review of employment equality, has commissioned research on the PAFT guidelines. The Government have no plans to undertake a further evaluation at this time.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps have been taken to draw the Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment Guidelines to the attention of relevant organisations and members of the public in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Denton of Wakefield

The Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment Guidelines were issued in the form of an administrative circular to Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office in December 1993. In the preparation of the guidelines, consultations were held with the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights, the Fair Employment Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and Disability Action. Copies of the final guidelines were distributed to these bodies at the time of issue. Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office have subsequently issued the guidelines to Next Steps Agencies and to Non-Departmental Public Bodies to which they would be relevant. Copies of the guidelines are available free to any organisation or member of the public requesting them. Two annual reports have been published on the implementation of the guidelines and these are also available free on request. The publication of the annual reports was notified to the media by the Northern Ireland Information Service.