HL Deb 17 July 2003 vol 651 c164WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 24 June (WA 11), what they consider to be the reasons why the European Commission and the Council adopted a narrower concept of racial discrimination in the Race Directive than in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, notwithstanding that all Member States are parties to the Convention, and that the International Convention is specifically referred to in Recital (3) of the Directive. [HL3693]

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)

Her Majesty's Government are unable to speculate as to the reasons why the European Commission and the Council adopted a narrower concept of racial discrimination in the Race Directive than in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union 2000).

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will seek to amend the Race Relations Directive so as to ensure that it contains express language defining racial discrimination to include discrimination based on colour. [HL3859]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The EC Article 13 Race Directive was agreed by the European Commission in 2000. The Government have no current plans to seek to extend the terms of the directive. The Government will seek to rectify any inconsistencies in the Race Relations Act 1976 resulting from the implementation of the directive when a suitable opportunity arises.