To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is funding concerning the effectiveness of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order 1998; and what proportion this represents of the total research budget of the commission for 2002–03. [98209]
The commission is currently undertaking research which will consider:patterns and trends in employment;effectiveness of the affirmative action provisions in the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998; andthe contextual framework e.g. feminisation of workforce, increased flexible working arrangements and changing educational outcomes.These research findings will be published in June 2004.The costs of this project, including publication of the results, will be spread across 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05. A significant element of the research has or will be undertaken without charge to Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Therefore, reflecting the proportion of the commission's research budget invested in the project is not appropriate.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many investigations the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is undertaking that concern compliance with the Fair Employment and Treatment Order 1998; and what proportion this represents of the total investigations budget of the Commission for 2002–3. [98210]
The Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 enables the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland to conduct investigations for the purpose of assisting it to promote equality of opportunity. The Commission is not at present conducting any investigations under the Order.The Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 places duties on employers with regard to registration and the monitoring and review of employment composition and practices. There is a high level of employer compliance with these duties.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases concerning an alleged breach of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order 1998 the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is supporting financially; how many it supported in each year since 1999; and what proportion this represents of the total 2002–03 budget for supporting discrimination claims on all grounds. [98211]
In the 2002-03 financial year (up to 14 February 2003) the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has approved support for 249 cases alleging a breach of the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998.Since April 1999 the Equality Commission has supported the following number of cases alleging a breach of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order 1998:
Number
| |
| April 1999-March 2000 | 123 |
| April 2000-March 2001 | 149 |
| April 2001-March 2002 | 291 |
| April 2002-February 2003 | 249 |
Claims alleging a breach of the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 for which invoices have been received during the first 10 months of the financial year 2002–03 account for 33 per cent. of the overall legal programme spend on supporting discrimination claims on all grounds. Invoices received and paid in 2002–03 will include costs associated with previous years' approvals.