---

Home Office

Answer

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress toward the public service agreement target for promoting an inclusive society with equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for all. [16928] Mr. Blunkett: The Government are committed to promoting and improving race equality in a number of ways and the promotion of race equality within the provision of services to the public is a key priority. In support of this priority, the Government are driving forward a programme of initiatives to provide a new legislative and administrative framework to deliver improvements to race equality in the public sector. The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 provided new laws for race equality and strengthened the Race Relations Act 1976, outlawing race discrimination in all public functions, with only limited exceptions. Orders laid before Parliament on 24 October extend the list of bodies to which the general duty applies and impose specific duties on key public bodies to ensure their better compliance with the general duty. The Government will publish their third edition of Race Equality indicators on public services early next year. Race Equality in Public Services is an annual publication which brings together key performance management data from across the range of government departments. The basket of indicators included in the document will be used to measure progress in achieving race equality. The first edition was published in March 2000, the second in February 2001. The third edition is due to be published in February/March 2002. The Government believe that these measures provide a framework for increasing the representation of minority ethnic communities in public life.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

16928; 376 c228-9W;376 c229-30W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Equality Public sector Public bodies Racial discrimination Race relations Standards

Legislation

Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk