§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about persons who have not been racially discriminated against having the power to bring forward a complaint on the part of a group or individuals who have been victims of such discrimination. [89544]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe question has been taken to mean "representative action". In this context, no representations have been received.
In the Commission for Racial Equality's Third Review of the Race Relations Act 1976, there were a large number of proposals for amending the Act. One of the proposals was that the Act should be amended to enable a court or tribunal to consider a complaint where the discrimination affects a number of people who wish to bring a group complaint, without the need for each person separately to bring proceedings. This proposal envisages "class action" and it, along with all the other proposals in the Commission's Review, is currently under consideration.