Race Relations Act

HL Deb 14 July 1999 vol 604 cc45-6WA

Lord Stallard

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish their response to the Commission for Racial Equality's Third Review of the Race Relations Act. [HL3682]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

We have today placed in the Library of the House a copy of the Government's response to the Commission for Racial Equality'sThird Review of the Race Relations Act 1976. In deciding their response, the Government have taken into account the Better Regulation Task Force's report on anti-discrimination legislation and the Equal Opportunities Commission's proposals for updating the Sex Discrimination Act, to which we are also responding today.

The Government recognise that, although significant progress has been made since the Race Relations Act was introduced 23 years ago, there is much to be done before we achieve a truly inclusive society. Institutional racism, as highlighted by the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report, has to be tackled in a number of ways, of which the legislative framework is only one.

The Government want the public sector to set the pace and lead by example. This approach is reflected in our response.