HL Deb 05 April 2004 vol 659 c193WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the areas of Home Office policy within the scope of work done by Dr Matt Cavanagh, special adviser to the Home Secretary; and whether those areas include the Government's policies or practices as regards equality of opportunity, or legislation and practice regarding race relations, immigration and asylum or the functions of the proposed Equality and Human Rights Commission. [HL2032]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

Dr Cavanagh is responsible for advising the Home Secretary on the development and communication of policy and practice in the following areas: immigration, nationality, and asylum; race and community cohesion; citizenship and active communities; Europe; research and statistics.

Equal opportunity policy cuts across most government departments and is a government policy rather than the responsibility of any single department though the Home Office has specific responsibility for race equality and social cohesions.

Work on the proposed Equality and Human Rights Commission involves several government departments, including the Home Office, and is co-ordinated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).