§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reduction in costs and manpower she estimates will occur as a result of the proposed establishment of a single Equality Commission. [48376]
§ Mr. WorthingtonThe proposal to establish a single Equality Commission was not based on seeking a reduction in costs and manpower. A new Commission would take on roles additional to those currently exercised by the Fair Employment Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland, the Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Disability Council. These new roles include responsibilities in relation to the statutory obligation on the public sector to promote equality of opportunity, changes to Fair Employment law proposed in the White Paper "Partnership for Equality" including the outlawing of discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services and functions comparable to those proposed for a Disability Rights Commission in Great Britain. No estimate of the costs and staffing of such a body has yet been made.