HC Deb 13 July 1998 vol 316 cc40-2W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the replies she received to the White Paper "Partnership for Equality" and what percentage of the total expressed opposition to the proposals with particular reference to the proposed establishment of a single commission dealing with all equality issues; and if she will list the groups expressing opposition. [48372]

Mr. Worthington

Written comments on the consultative elements of the White Paper were to be sent by 12 June 1998 and by that date we had received 114 replies, as indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes, South-West (Dr. Starkey) on 17 June 1998,Official Report, column 254. A further 9 responses were subsequently received and a total of 123 were considered. Of those expressing a view on the proposed establishment of a single Commission 55 or 45 per cent. were broadly against. These were:

  • Barnados
  • Belfast and District Trade Union Council
  • Belfast Travellers Education Development Group
  • Commission on the Administration of Justice
  • Chinese Welfare Association NI
  • Commission for Racial Equality (NI)
  • Craigavon Standing Conference of Women's Organisations
  • Craigavon Travellers Support Committee
  • Derry City Council
  • Disability Action
  • Equal Opportunities Commission (N)
  • Falls Women's Centre (two responses)
  • Fee Ching Leong
  • Forum for Community Work Education NI
  • Foyle Friend
  • Greater Belfast Community Network
  • Institute for Public Policy Research
  • Jones and Cassidy, Solicitors
  • Law Centre NI
  • Mrs. K. M. I. Wilson OBE
  • Multi Cultural Resource Centre
  • NI Disability Council
  • NI Forum of People with Disabilities
  • NI Union of Supported Employment
  • NI Anti-Poverty Network
  • Northern Ireland Committee—Irish Congress of Trade Unions
  • NI Council for Ethnic Equality
  • NI Council for Ethnic Minorities
  • NI Public Service Alliance
  • North West Community Network
  • NI Voluntary Trust
  • NI Women's Coalition
  • Opportunities for Women in Learning
  • Payee Point Travellers Centre
  • POBAL (Irish Language Group)
  • Resource and Development Agency
  • Roden Street Community Development Group
  • Rural Community Network
  • SACHR
  • SDLP
  • Sinn Fein
  • Soroptimist International
  • Soroptimist International (UK Programme Action Committee)
  • Southern Travellers Early Years Partnership
  • Strathfoyle Women's Activity Group
  • The Rainbow
  • The Women's Centre
  • Training for Women Network
  • Traveller Movement NI
    • 42
  • UNISON
  • Women's Forum NI
  • Women into Politics
  • Women's National Commission
  • Women's Support Network.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the responses to the White Paper "Partnership for Equality" will be made public. [48373]

Mr. Worthington

The Government do not intend to publish the responses but arrangements have been made for copies of the replies, with the exception of one requesting confidentiality, to be placed in the Parliamentary Libraries.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes to the White Paper "Partnership for Equality" are being made as a result of responses received to the White Paper "Partnership for Equality". [48374]

Mr. Worthington

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, West (Mr. Salter) on 10 July 1998,Official Report, columns 665–66.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will allow interested parties to make changes to their submissions to the White Paper "Partnership for Equality" to take account of the publication of the Belfast Agreement. [48375]

Mr. Worthington

No. All but two of the 123 submissions on the White Paper were received after the Belfast Agreement was published and almost all respondents were therefore able to take the Agreement into account.