HC Deb 06 May 2004 vol 420 cc1720-1W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many formal complaints alleging breaches of fair employment and equal opportunity legislation by the Northern Ireland Policing Board have been made to the Office of Industrial Tribunals and the Office of Fair Employment Tribunals in ((a)) 2002, ((b)) 2003 and (c)2004 to date. [170728]

Mr. Pearson

I have been advised by the Northern Ireland Policing Board of the following statistics relating to the number of formal complaints made to the Office of Industrial Tribunals and the Office of Fair Employment Tribunals alleging breaches of fair employment and equal opportunity legislation by the Northern Ireland Policing Board2002: None. 2003: Two Cases. 2004: None to date.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of(a) the adequacy of the Northern Ireland Policing Board's equal opportunities policy and (b) the supply of appropriately qualified and trained staff to implement it; and what assessment he has made of the ability of the Board to comply with (i) equal opportunities and (ii) fair employment legislation, with particular reference to the requirement to preserve all relevant records and papers. [170404]

Mr. Pearson

The Northern Ireland Policing Board is designated as a public authority and is therefore required by Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, in carrying out its functions to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and regard to promote good relations.

The Policing Board's Equality Scheme, which was approved on 12 February 2003 sets out how it proposes to fulfil its statutory duties. As like all other public authorities the Policing Board produces an annual progress report on its Equality Scheme and submits this to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

In addition as an employer I have been informed by the Policing Board that it has in place all the necessary procedures and processes to ensure that it complies with all relevant employment law. The Board has recently implemented their Equal Opportunities policy arid undertaken the associated training for all staff.

I have also been advised that all relevant records and papers in respect of recruitment are retained in accordance with equal opportunities policies and legislative requirements.