§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Under what equality legislation the Food Safety Promotion Board, set up under the terms of the Belfast Agreement of 1998, acts; and what is the gender and religious balance of the body. [HL6240]
§ Lord Williams of Mostyn:The Food Safety Promotion Board operates from a base in Cork, although it provides a service to the entire island of Ireland. The relevant employment legislation that applies to the Food Safety Promotion Board is the 177WA Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000. This particular Act outlaws discrimination on the same nine grounds as the Employment Equality Act 1998 but in the provision of services. The FSPB also operates under Section 75 and Schedule 9 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to promote equality of opportunity.
It is not a requirement of the legislation to monitor the religious breakdown of the staff.
Details of the Food Safety Promotion Board staffing and gender balance were provided in response to Parliamentary Question HL6077.