HC Deb 18 May 1999 vol 331 cc293-5W
Mr. Efford

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the membership of the steering group which he will chair to oversee the implementation of his action plan to take forward the recommendations of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [84883]

Mr. Straw

Details of membership of the Steering Group are as follows:

Members representing official bodies

The right hon. Jack Straw MP

  • Home Secretary

Paul Boateng MP

  • Minister of State, Home Office

Sir Herman Ouseley

  • Chairman
  • Commission for Racial Equality

Bob Purkiss

  • Commission for Racial Equality

Mark Addison

  • Chief Executive
  • Crown Prosecution Service

Dan Crompton

  • Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary

Charles Clarke

  • Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for School Standards
  • Department for Education and Employment

Denis O'Connor

  • Assistant Commissioner
  • Metropolitan Police

Tony Burden

  • Chairman of the Association of Chief Police
  • Officers Race and Community Relations Committee

Fred Broughton

  • Chairman
  • The Police Federation

Peter Gammon

  • Chairman
  • The Police Superintendents' Association

Ruth Henig

  • Chair
  • Association of Police Authorities

Robyn Williams

  • National Black Police Association

Independent Members of the Steering Group

  • Maqsood Ahmad
  • Ros Howells OBE
  • Anita Sharda
  • Beverley Thompson
  • Doreen Lawrence
  • Neville Lawrence
  • Judy Clements
  • Keith Kerr
  • Usha Sood
  • Gurbus Singh
  • Mark Blake.

Membership reflects the commitment given in the Action Plan that involvement and consultation of minority ethnic people, as well as the police service and other relevant organisations, will be one of the principles which will guide all the work to implement the plan.

The Steering Group is meeting for the first time today. The purpose of the meeting is to agree terms of reference, to consider what progress has been made so far in implementing the Action Plan, and to identify areas for particular attention at future meetings. It is expected that the Group will meet 5 or 6 times a year.