To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Metropolitan Police Service are complying with guidance on tackling and eliminating racism from the police service in London. [HL4769]

In November 2008, the then policing Minister published an assessment of minority ethnic recruitment, retention and progression across the police service, including the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), setting out a programme of positive action which is being taken forward by a ministerial-led group.

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), like all police authorities, has a vital role in setting local strategic priorities in consultation with all communities and holding police forces to account for the service they deliver.

An additional duty proposed in the Policing and Crime Bill will ensure that communities' views on policing are representative, including of minority groups, and are at the core of police authorities' work. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) will begin a programme of inspections of police authorities, including the MPA, in 2009 to assess in part how well they are engaging communities and ensuring that all local groups have access to policing services.

The equality standard for the police service will be rolled out to the police service later this year. This will help police forces to build on the considerable progress that has been made and increase their performance on equality and diversity. HMIC will undertake a major workforce inspection of all police forces, including the MPS, in 2010. This inspection—working for the public—will cover implementation of the equality standard.