HL Deb 06 November 1998 vol 594 cc66-7WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will introduce measures to give equivalent powers of monitoring and enforcement to the Commission for Racial Equality, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Disability Rights Council to those now enjoyed by the Fair Employment Commission for Northern Ireland. [HL3657]

The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)

The Government have recently received from the Commission for Racial Equality and from the Equal Opportunities Commission wide-ranging proposals for changes to the law including monitoring and enforcement arrangements. They will consider these carefully, as they will questions on the role and functions of a Disability Rights Commission in the light of the recent consultation on the latter.