§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many disablement workshops there are in each London borough authority area. [24534]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthI have been asked to reply.
Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 28 January 1998:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your question about the number of disabled workshops in each London Borough Authority area. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as the Employment Service Chief Executive.The Employment's Service's Supported Employment Programme provides employment for severely disabled people who would not otherwise be able to obtain or retain employment. The Programme provides funding for the following workshops for disabled people in the London Boroughs:the annual incidence of religious discrimination within the RUC for the period 1991–96 in respect of Catholic and Protestant origin is as follows:
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Catholic 13.2 13.6 13.0 11.3 10.5 9.2 Protestant 2.5 3.2 3.4 4.5 4.8 4.6
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will estimate the extent of under-reporting of incidents of religious discrimination 259W within the RUC; what assessment she has made of the causes of under-reporting; and what improvements to procedures she proposes. [22351]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 16 January 1998]: A total of 66 per cent. of the 4,357 respondents to the recent Religious and Political Harassment and Discrimination Survey indicated they ignored or did nothing as a result of being subjected to religious or political discrimination.
The survey indicated the following reasons why respondents (4,357) did not report religious/political discrimination.
Per cent. Didn't think anything would be done 57 Didn't want to damage career 46 No proof of discrimination 45 Didn't want to be victimised 38 Didn't know what to do 12 The RUC has introduced a number of measures to encourage officers to come forward. These include:
- (a) The installation of a Confidential Helpline in the Equal Opportunities Unit and an extensive poster campaign promoting the Helpline.
- (b) The introduction of Harassment Support Officers at local level.
- (c) Poster campaigns.
- (d) Increasing the accessibility of the Equal Opportunities Unit through Divisional and Sub-Divisional roadshows.
- (e) Continual input on Equal Opportunities matters in all recruit, probationer, further and divisional training courses.
These measures are continually under review for their effectiveness.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will identify by rank those persons responsible for religious discrimination in respect of RUC officers of(a) Catholic and (b) Protestant origin since 1991. [22352]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 16 January 1998]: This information is not currently available.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will estimate the extent of under-reporting of incidents of religious harassment within the RUC; what assessment she has made of causes of under-reporting; and what improvements to procedures she proposes. [22662]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 16 January 1998]: Records are not available to estimate the extent of under-reporting of incidents of religious harassment within the RUC.
The RUC has introduced a number of measures to encourage officers to come forward. These include:
- (a) The installation of a Confidential Helpline in the Equal Opportunities Unit. This was followed by an extensive poster campaign promoting the Helpline.
- (b) The introduction of Harassment Support Officers at local level.
- (c) Poster campaigns.
- (d) Increasing the accessibility of the Equal Opportunities Unit throughout Divisional and Sub-Divisional roadshows.
260 - (e) Continual input on Equal Opportunities matters in all recruit, probationer, further and divisional training courses.
These measures are continually under review for their effectiveness.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what definition of religious discrimination has been used by the RUC in its internal reports; and what estimate has been made of the extent to which officers of(a) Catholic and (b) Protestant origin perceive religious discrimination to be a problem. [22724]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 16 January 1998]: The RUC defines religious discrimination as follows:
Direct discrimination means treating a person less favourably on the grounds of religion or political opinion, than the person of another religion or political opinion is or would be treated in similar circumstances.Indirect discrimination on the grounds of religion and political opinion occurs when an unjustifiable requirement or condition is applied equally to all religious and political groups but has a disproportionately adverse effect on members of a particular group and it is to the complainant's detriment that the requirement or condition cannot be complied with.The table reveals the perceived extent of religious/political discrimination within the RUC as taken from the recent Religious and Political Harassment and Discrimination Survey (4,357 respondents).
Perception of religious discrimination in the RUC Roman Catholic Protestant There is no religious discrimination within the RUC 47 (11 per cent.) 480 (14 per cent.) Religious discrimination is now more of a problem 35 (8 per cent.) 500 (15 per cent.) Religious discrimination is now less of a problem 191 (43 per cent.) 1,193 (36 per cent.) Religious discrimination has remained unchanged 90 (20 per cent.) 561 (17 per cent.) Don't know/no reply 80 (18 per cent.) 607 (18 per cent.)
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will estimate the annual incidence of religious harassment within the RUC for the period 1991 to 1996 in respect of officers of(a) Catholic and (b) Protestant origin. [22660]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 16 January 1998]: The estimated percentage of the annual incidence of religious harassment within the RUC for the period 1991–96 in respect of Catholic and Protestant origin as taken from the recent Religious and Political Harassment and Discrimination Survey is as follows:
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Roman Catholic 25.9 29.1 26.3 24.6 25.4 27.9 Protestant 2.8 3.1 3.6 4.0 4.7 5.2
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will define behaviour that would constitute religious harassment within the RUC. [22661]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 16 January 1998]: The recent Religious/Political Harassment and Discrimination Survey referred to religious/political harassment as —'unwanted conduct' based on religious belief or political opinion affecting the rights of people at work. This 261W harassment may take the form of serious assaults, physical gestures, jokes, banter, offensive language, circulation of notes or letters, or visual displays of offensive materials.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will identify by rank those persons responsible for religious harassment experienced by RUC officers of(a) Catholic and (b) Protestant origin. [22663]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 16 January 1998]: This information is not readily available in the format requested and would incur disproportionate cost to provide.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will estimate how many current RUC officers of(a) Catholic and (b) Protestant origin have been the subject of religious discrimination. [22349]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 16 January 1998]: The recent Religious and Political Harassment and Discrimination Survey indicated that of those officers who responded, approx 12 per cent. of Roman Catholics and 3 per cent. of Protestants felt that they had experienced religious discrimination at some time in their careers.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will estimate how many current RUC officers of(a) Catholic and (b) Protestant origin have been the subject of religious harassment during their careers. [22659]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 16 January 1998]: The recent Religious and Political Harassment and Discrimination Survey indicated that of those officers who responded 29 per cent. of Roman Catholic and 3 per cent. of Protestants felt they had experienced religious harassment at some time in their careers.