Northern Ireland Civil Service: Equality Officers

HL Deb 10 September 2003 vol 652 c124WA

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 11 June (WA 41), whether the 110 officials in the Northern Ireland Civil Service involved in promoting equality practice promote equality of opportunity or equality of outcome. [HL4068]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The 110 officials referred to, like every Northern Ireland civil servant, are subject to and carry out the duty placed on public authorities by Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, to "have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity" between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation; between men and women generally; between persons with a disability and persons without; and between persons with dependants and persons without.