§ Mr. SalterTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she has come to a decision on any of the proposals in the White Paper "Partnership for Equality" on which views were invited. [50527]
666W
§ Mr. WorthingtonWhen the White Paper was published, written comments were invited by 12 June on issues where the Government had not yet made a final decision, or where there were detailed matters to be decided, consequent on a decision in principle. The Government have given urgent consideration to two of these issues—a proposal to create a statutory obligation on the public sector to promote equality of opportunity and the proposal to create a unified Equality Commission. In response to comments received on the proposed statutory equality obligation, it is proposed to set out the requirements on public bodies in more detail in forthcoming legislation, particularly in terms of consultation with outside bodies and the provision of information. The Government have also considered carefully the concerns expressed by a number of respondents on the proposal to bring together the existing statutory equality bodies in a unified Commission. They have decided to proceed with this proposal, while taking steps to ensure that the ethos of the current bodies and the advances which they have made are protected within the new framework, and that all dimensions of equality are given due attention in the new Commission's work. Discussions will take place with the existing statutory equality bodies on the structures of a new Commission. A briefing document, giving further details of changes made to the original proposals, has been placed in the Parliamentary Libraries.