§ Lord Ouseleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which provisions of the Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003 fail to meet the non-regression principles set out in the European Union Race Directive; and what are the reasons therefor. [HL3430]
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)We do not consider that any of the provisions of the Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003 fail to meet the non-regression principles set out in the European Union Race Directive.
§ Lord Ouseleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What were the reasons why "national origins" were added to the definition in the Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003, whereas the European Race Directive only specified "race and ethnic" origins. [HL3431]
§ Baroness Scotland of Asthal"National origins" were included in the definition in the Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003, because current case law holds that these words, which already appear in the 1976 Act, refer to a person's country of birth (as opposed to nationality).
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider the exclusion of "colour" from the grounds of unlawful racial discrimination in the Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003 to be compatible with the universal right to equality before the law for all persons, referred to in Recital (3) of the Preamble to the Race Directive (Council Directive 2000/43/EC); and, if so, what are their reasons. [HL3441]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalWe consider the omission of a reference to colour in the Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003 to be compatible with the universal right to equality before the law for all persons, referred to in Recital (3) of the Preamble to the Race Directive (Council Directive 2000/43/EC), to the extent that the omission of any such reference in the directive is itself so compatible.