My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Shaun Woodward) has made the following Ministerial Statement.

I have today placed copies of the final report of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland on the effectiveness of the Section 75 equality duty in the Libraries of the House.

The duty under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is an important mechanism for encouraging public authorities to place equality considerations at the heart of policy-making. This report highlights the positive impact that Section 75 has had over the past decade, and offers a helpful reflection on how effectiveness could be developed to encourage greater equality of opportunity for all in Northern Ireland.

I commend the Equality Commission for their valuable contribution to pursuing equality of opportunity and I look forward to receiving proposals from them on how best to take this work forward through guidance to public authorities.