HL Deb 12 June 2002 vol 636 cc39-40WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proportion of pupils permanently excluded from primary and secondary schools are of Afro-Caribbean ethnic origin. [HL4560]

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

From the information readily available to us, black-Caribbean exclusions are down from 46 in every 10,000 for 1999–2000 to an estimated 38 in every 10,000 (approximately 3.5 per cent. to approximately 3 per cent.) for 2000–01. This includes information gathered from primary, secondary and special schools.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they will take to ensure that pupils of Afro-Caribbean ethnic origin are not discriminated against on racial grounds in being excluded from primary schools. [HL4561]

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 places a general duty on public authorities, including schools and LEAs, to aim to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination and promote equality of opportunity and good race relations between people of different racial groups. To help schools to comply with this duty, they are subject to specific, statutory duties, and were required by the 31 May this year to have prepared a written race equality policy setting out how they will tackle racial discrimination and promote equality of opportunity and good race relations across all areas of school activity. They are also required to assess and monitor the impact of their policies on pupils, parents and staff from different racial groups, in particular whether their policies have, or could have, an adverse impact on the attainment levels of pupils from different racial groups. The policies to be assessed and monitored can include discipline and exclusions.

Black-Caribbean exclusions are down from 46 in every 10,000 for 1999–2000 to an estimated 38 in every 10,000 (approximately 3.5 per cent to approximately 3 per cent) for 2000–2001. Although figures are now falling, we are not complacent about the exclusion of black children from school and they continue to be of concern to us. We are working with key partners, both inside and outside of government, to develop ways of tackling the problem and examining the whole issue of black attainment in schools.