§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will set out the(a) terms of reference, (b) key objectives and (c) measures of gauging the effectiveness of the Equal Opportunities Unit within the RUC. [22353]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 16 January 1998]: (a) The terms of reference for the RUC Equal Opportunities Unit are as follows:
- To ensure equality of opportunity in all areas including:
- Application
- Selection
- Training
- Promotion
- Deployment and any other areas.
(b) The objectives of the RUC Equal Opportunities Unit are as follows:
- (1) To emphasise the force's commitment to equality of opportunity.
- (2) To ensure that recruitment methods and selection procedures are fair and free from bias.
- (3) To provide equal access to opportunities for promotion.
- (4) To ensure equal treatment in deployment.
- (5) To provide equal access to opportunities for transfer.
- (6) To provide access to opportunities for transfer.
- (7) To promote equality of opportunity through the implementation of positive action measures.
- (8) To investigate all job requirements and remove those which are unjustifiable.
- (9) To ensure all conditions of service are non-discriminatory.
- (10) To examine all initiatives which facilitate members to combine domestic and work commitments.
- (11) To deal with complaints of discrimination promptly and fairly.
264 - (12) To implement systems to monitor the provision of equality of opportunity in the force.
(c) The nature of the work of the Equal Opportunities Unit makes it difficult to measure the effectiveness of the Unit however the Unit reports tri-annually to the Fair Employment Commission and is also subject to regular inspection from Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary