asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what statutory powers the Equal Opportunities Commission is empowered to criticise Government policies or measures.

The commission's duties to work towards the elimination of discrimination, to promote equality of opportunity between men and women generally and to keep under review and submit proposals for the amendment of the relevant legislation are prescribed in sections 53 and 55 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. The application of this Act to the Crown is effected by section 85.