§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have received in favour of extending British legislation on racially motivated crime to Northern Ireland. [HL1001]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonFollowing a meeting with a representative of the Northern Ireland Commission for Ethnic Minorities, the Government received written representations by the leader of the Alliance Party last July. These proposed the extension of the provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 in respect of racially motivated offences to Northern Ireland. In response to a letter from the Secretary of State, the First and Deputy First Ministers asked about the possibility of extending the provisions of the Act.
The Government propose to conduct a consultation exercise later this year to consider how best to legislate in Northern Ireland in respect of racially motivated crime. My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Northern Ireland recently met representatives of the Alliance Party to discuss this, and a meeting with ministerial colleagues of the First and Deputy First Ministers has been arranged for the beginning of April.