§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what support arrangements Government Departments provide for foreign nationals coming to Northern Ireland to work. [178764]
§ Mr. SpellarUnder current EU rules, EU nationals, who come to work in Northern Ireland, are covered for social security purposes, by EC Regulation 1408/71. The aim of the rules is to ensure that employed and self-employed people who exercise their right to free movement are not adversely affected by the application of different national legislation. In addition, there are a number of UK reciprocal bilateral agreements with1238W countries outside the EU. These agreements protect the social security position of workers moving between the two countries during their working lives.
The Allocation of Housing Regulations (NI) 2004 provide that a person who is not habitually resident in the Common Travel Area comprising the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland, or whose right to reside in that area derives solely from certain European directives, is not eligible to be allocated housing accommodation by the Housing Executive. However, an exception is made for certain classes of persons including "workers" for the purposes of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1612/68 or (EEC) No. 1251/70 and persons from new EU accession states who are treated as workers for the purpose of the definition of "qualified person" in regulation 5(1) of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2000 pursuant to regulation 5 of the Accession (Immigration and Worker Registration) Regulations 2004. The Homelessness Regulations (NI) 2004 make similar provision in respect of access to housing assistance under the homelessness legislation.
The Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) is working to promote race equality for foreign nationals both as service users and as staff in the Health and Personal Social Services. East year DHSSPS published a Guide to Race Equality in Health and Social Services and also issued guidance on access to information, handling complaints, user involvement and promoting positive staff attitudes to diversity to all HSS boards, trusts and agencies.
DHSSPS and the HSS trusts, boards and agencies are working together to ensure that people belonging to minority ethnic groups enjoy the access to services that they are entitled to have. This work includes the establishment of a Regional Interpreting Service for health and social services, which is due to come into operation at the end of this month, and initiatives by HPSS organisations including events, websites and information in translation, to improve access to services and to promote diversity.
DHSSPS recently organised an anti-racism workshop involving trusts, staff side organisations, some overseas staff, and the NI Council for Ethnic Minorities, to help trusts to share good practice and it is currently drafting guidance for employers in the health sector on how best to support their minority ethnic staff including those from overseas.