§ Lord Ashley of Stokeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will empower the Disability Rights Commission to initiate court proceedings concerning human rights. [HL5742]
44WA
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)We are considering giving the Disability Rights Commission the power to assist individuals in proceedings under the Human Rights Act. We made this clear in our response to the Disability Rights Task Force's report. However, we want to consider the matter in the light of any recommendations the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights may make on whether there should be a human rights commission and in the light of the project on options for future equality machinery, in particular the feasibility of a single equality body.
§ Lord Ashley of Stokeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will implement the recommendations of the Disability Rights Task Force before considering any changes to the Disability Rights Commission. [HL5744]
Lord Campbell of Croyasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they intend to act upon those recommendations of the Disability Rights Task Force which they have accepted and which require legislation. [HL5816]
§ Baroness Hollis of HeighamWe have said that, in 2004, we will bring employers with fewer than 15 employees within the Disability Discrimination Act and end other employment and occupational exemptions. These changes will bring an additional 7 million jobs, in which around 600,000 disabled people already work, within scope of the DDA as well as a further 1.2 million employers.
Our manifesto commits us to legislate on other task force recommendations, as indicated in Towards Inclusion, our response to the task force report, as soon as there is parliamentary time.
We have not made any proposals concerning the future of the DRC but will consult shortly on institutional arrangements which would best support equality legislation in the future.