T
[DOCUMENT IS T H E P R O P E R T Y O F H E R B R I T A N N I C M A J E S T Y S G O V E R N M E N T )
65 C ( 6 7 ) 196
15th D e c e m b e r ,
COPY NO.
1967
CABINET
R A C E RELATIONS LEGISLATION
M e m o r a n d u m b y t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r t h e H o m e D e p a r t m e n t
Introduction
On 19th J u l y , 1 9 6 7 , t h e H o m e A f f a i r s C o m m i t t e e a p p r o v e d m y
p r e d e c e s s o r ' s p r o p o s a l s to e x t e n d the R a c e R e l a t i o n s A c t 1965 to
e m p l o y m e n t , h o u s i n g , i n s u r a n c e a n d c r e d i t f a c i l i t i e s a n d to a w i d e r
r a n g e of p u b l i c p l a c e s .
The G o v e r n m e n t s intention to introduce an
a m e n d i n g B i l l this S e s s i o n w a s announced in The Q u e e n ' s S p e e c h ,
S c o p e of t h e B i l l
2.
S i n c e the H o m e A f f a i r s C o m m i t t e e d i s c u s s i o n , t h e r e h a v e
b e e n e x t e n s i v e i n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l d i s c u s s i o n s at official l e v e l and
a n u m b e r of i n f o r m a l m e e t i n g s b e t w e e n i n t e r e s t e d M i n i s t e r s .
In
v i e w of t h e c o n t r o v e r s i a l a n d n o v e l n a t u r e of s o m e o f t h e p r o p o s a l s ,
I think it r i g h t to c o n s u l t m y c o l l e a g u e s e t this s t a g e about the s c o p e
of t h e B i l l .
3.
I a c c o r d i n g l y a t t a c h a s u m m a r y of t h e p r o v i s i o n s i n A n n e x L,
Their m a i n effect would b e : ­
(a)
T o m a k e d i s c r i m i n a t i o n on t h e g r o u n d s of c o l o u r , r a c e , e t h n i c
o r n a t i o n a l o r i g i n u n l a w f u l i n p l a c e s w h i c h a r e o p e n to t h e p u b l i c at
l a r g e o r i n t h e p r o v i s i o n of s e r v i c e s w h i c h a r e a v a i l a b l e t o t h e p u b l i c
at l a r g e .
(b)
T o m a k e d i s c r i m i n a t i o n by a n e m p l o y e r or a t r a d e u n i o n u n l a w f u l .
D o m e s t i c e m p l o y m e n t i n a p r i v a t e h o u s e h o l d and, i n i t i a l l y , e m p l o y m e n t
by e m p l o y e r s with t e n or l e s s e m p l o y e e s , w i l l b e e x e m p t .
A special
p r o v i s i o n w i l l e n a b l e an e m p l o y e r t o r e f u s e t e m p o r a r i l y t o r e c r u i t
e m p l o y e e s of a p a r t i c u l a r r a c e f o r t h e p u r p o s e of p r e s e r v i n g a b a l a n c e
between different r a c i a l groups.
(c)
T o m a k e d i s c r i m i n a t i o n i n d i s p o s i n g of a h o u s e o r o t h e r p r o p e r t y
unlawful.
T h e B i l l w i l l a p p l y to a l l l o c a l a u t h o r i t y h o u s i n g , t o t h o s e
w h o m a k e a b u s i n e s s of s e l l i n g a n d l e t t i n g p r o p e r t y a n d t o t h e p r i v a t e
o w n e r - o c c u p i e r , with certain exemptions for shared accommodation
and l o d g i n g s ,
(d)
T o m a k e d i s c r i m i n a t i o n in t h e p r o v i s i o n of i n s u r a n c e a n d c r e d i t
f a c i l i t i e s u n l a w f u l , w i t h c e r t a i n s a f e g u a r d s f o r t h e e x e r c i s e of c o m m e r c i a l
judgment,
(e)
To m a k e a l l d i s c r i m i n a t o r y a d v e r t i s e m e n t s unlawful,,
(f)
To m a k e s p e c i a l p r o v i s i o n i n t h e f i e l d of e m p l o y m e n t f o r i n d u s t r y
t o e s t a b l i s h i t s o w n v o l u n t a r y m a c h i n e r y t o a t t e m p t c o n c i l i a t i o n in the
first instance,
(g)
To s t r e n g t h e n t h e r o l e a n d s t a t u s o f t h e R a c e R e l a t i o n s B o a r d
a n d to e m p o w e r i t t o s e e k i n j u n c t i o n s o r d a m a g e s in s p e c i a l l y d e s i g n a t e d
county c o u r t s sitting with a s s e s s o r s in E n g l a n d and W a l e s (with
corresponding a r r a n g e m e n t s in Scotland),
(h)
To b i n d t h e C r o w n , w i t h a p p r o p r i a t e e x c e p t i o n s , ,
(i)
To r e p l a c e t h e N a t i o n a l C o m m i t t e e f o r C o m m o n w e a l t h I m m i g r a n t s
by a s t a t u t o r y b o a r d .
Enforcement
4,
M a n y of t h e p r o v i s i o n s s e t o u t i n A n n e x I w i l l b e d i f f i c u l t t o
enforce.
B u t t h e e n f o r c e m e n t of s a n c t i o n s i s n o t t h e p r i m a r y a i m
of l e g i s l a t i o n i n t h e d e l i c a t e f i e l d of r a c e r e l a t i o n s .
Its main purpose
i s m o r e g e n e r a l : t o p r o c l a i m that r a c i a l d i s c r i m i n a t i o n i s n o t in the
public i n t e r e s t and that the G o v e r n m e n t a r e o p p o s e d to it o n grounds
of p u b l i c p o l i c y ; t o e d u c a t e p u b l i c o p i n i o n ; t o l e n d s u p p o r t t o t h o s e
who do not want to d i s c r i m i n a t e but a r e under p r e s s u r e f r o m o t h e r s
t o d o s o j a n d to m a k e a v a i l a b l e e f f e c t i v e c o n c i l i a t i o n m a c h i n e r y .
5.
To a c h i e v e t h e s e a i m s t h e l e g i s l a t i o n m u s t b e a s c o m p r e h e n s i v e
as possible.
If w e a v o i d t h e c e n t r a l i s s u e s b e c a u s e t h e y a r e s e n s i t i v e
and c o n t r o v e r s i a l , m a n y p e o p l e including the c o l o u r e d c o m m u n i t i e s
t h e m s e l v e s , w i l l doubt our s i n c e r i t y .
We s h a l l then h a v e the v/orst
of b o t h w o r l d s .
6,
I c o n s i d e r t h a t m o s t c o m p l a i n t s of d i s c r i m i n a t i o n u n d e r t h e B i l l
w i l l b e s e t t l e d b y c o n c i l i a t i o n a n d t h a t f e w of t h e m w i l l r e a c h t h e c o u r t s .
T h e r e w i l l , h o w e v e r , b e s o m e c a s e s w h e r e c o n c i l i a t i o n f a i l s and w h e r e
t h e r e i s c l e a r e v i d e n c e of d i s c r i m i n a t i o n , p e r h a p s a c c o m p a n i e d b y
financial l o s s .
F o r t h e m a r e m e d y s h o u l d b e a v a i l a b l e i n the c o u r t s ,
b o t h a s a m a t t e r of j u s t i c e a n d a s a n u l t i m a t e s a n c t i o n t o g i v e t h e
n e c e s s a r y b a c k i n g to t h e c o n c i l i a t i o n p r o c e d u r e s of t h e R a c e R e l a t i o n s
B o a r d and i n d u s t r y .
7.
The e n f o r c e m e n t a r r a n g e m e n t s I a m p r o p o s i n g differ f r o m t h o s e
under the e x i s t i n g A c t .
D i s c r i m i n a t i o n w i l l b e defined to include a s i n g l e
a c t , a n d n o t o n l y a c o u r s e of c o n d u c t ,
T h e p o w e r t o s e e k an i n j u n c t i o n
in the c o u r t s , which a t p r e s e n t r e s t s with the A t t o r n e y " G e n e r a l in
England and W a l e s , would i n s t e a d r e s t with the R a c e R e l a t i o n s Board
i t s e l f w h i c h would be e m p o w e r e d to s e e k both i n j u n c t i o n s and d a m a g e s
on behalf of c o m p l a i n a n t s in s p e c i a l l y d e s i g n a t e d c o u n t y c o u r t s sitting
with a s s e s s o r s .
Individual plaintiffs would n o t be a b l e to institute
proceedings before the c o u r t s .
The county c o u r t l i m i t on d a m a g e s
would not apply.
I hope it w i l l be p o s s i b l e to m a k e c o m p a r a b l e
a r r a n g e m e n t s in S c o t l a n d .
The Private
8
Owner-occupier
P r o b a b l y the m o s t difficult and c o n t r o v e r s i a l i s s u e i s the p r o p o s a l
t o i n c l u d e t h e s a l e of a h o u s e by a p r i v a t e o w n e r - o c c u p i e r i n t h e p r o v i s i o n s
of t h e B i l l , a n d i t i s i n r e s p e c t of t h i s t h a t I s e e k m y c o l l e a g u e s ' v i e w s .
T h i s w i l l b e a t t a c k e d by t h o s e w h o w i l l c o n s i d e r i t u n a c c e p t a b l e t o r e s t r i c t
t h e r i g h t of a n i n d i v i d u a l t o d i s p o s e of h i s p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y a s h e w i s h e s . ,
T h e y w i l l a r g u e that p e o p l e c a n h a v e good r e a s o n s for d e c i d i n g n o t to
a c c e p t a p a r t i c u l a r o f f e r f o r t h e i r h o u s e a n d tha.t s u c h p e o p l e m a y f e e l
that t h e y w i l l a t the l e a s t a t t r a c t a d v e r s e p u b l i c i t y , if n o t h i n g w o r s e ,
i n r e f u s i n g an offer f r o m a c o l o u r e d p e r s o n .
It w i l l b e s a i d t h a t t h e
l e g i s l a t i o n i s e n t e r i n g t h e f i e l d of p r i v a t e a n d p e r s o n a l t r a n s a c t i o n s
a n d m o v i n g a w a y f r o m o v e r t and p u b l i c c o n d u c t , t h a t t h e p r i v a t e
c i t i z e n w i l l be r e q u i r e d to s a t i s f y an o u t s i d e body about a p r i v a t e
t r a n s a c t i o n , that injunction p r o c e d u r e s w i l l s e l d o m b e e f f e c t i v e and
t h a t d a m a g e s w i l l b e d i f f i c u l t to q u a n t i f y ,
0
9.
On t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e r e i s w i d e s p r e a d a g r e e m e n t t h a t t h e
q u e s t i o n of h o u s i n g s a l e s i s t h e t o u c h s t o n e a g a i n s t w h i c h o u r g e n u i n e n e s s
i n t h e f i e l d of r a c e r e l a t i o n s w i l l b e t e s t e d .
A b o u t 5 0 p e r c e n t of a l l
a c c o m m o d a t i o n i s o w n e r - o c c u p i e d a n d i t i s t h i s t y p e of p r o p e r t y t h a t
the coloured communities m o s t want.
A big threat to community
r e l a t i o n s i s t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of r e s i d e n t i a l g h e t t o a r e a s o c c u p i e d
n o t o n l y by n e w i m m i g r a n t s b u t a l s o b y s e c o n d g e n e r a t i o n c o l o u r e d
c i t i z e n s of t h i s c o u n t r y .
A n y m e a s u r e we c a n take to p r e v e n t this
d e v e l o p m e n t or to m a k e it e a s i e r for t h o s e a l r e a d y in s e g r e g a t e d a r e a s
of b a d h o u s i n g t o m o v e e l s e w h e r e w i l l b e v a l u a b l e .
Since m o s t people
o b e y the l a w , t h e i n c l u s i o n of p r i v a t e h o u s i n g i n the n e w l e g i s l a t i o n would
be an important contribution.
I t h e r e f o r e p r o p o s e that it should b e
included.
The Crown
10. .
I think i t e s s e n t i a l p r e s e n t a t i o n a l l y and p o l i t i c a l l y that the Crown,
b o t h a s a n e m p l o y e r a n d a s t h e p r o v i d e r of p u b l i c s e r v i c e s , s h o u l d b e
s e e n to b e b o u n d i n t h e B i l l .
T h e r e would be s u i t a b l e s a f e g u a r d s for
s e c u r i t y a n d t h e n a t i o n a l i t y r u l e s f o r the p u b l i c s e r v i c e s .
I would also
p r o p o s e to e x c l u d e the C r o w n f r o m c o u r t p r o c e e d i n g s though t h e r e w i l l
n o doubt b e p r e s s u r e not to do s o .
F i n a n c e and Staff
11.
D e t a i l s o f f i n a n c e a n d s t a f f a r e g i v e n i n A n n e x II,
Conclusion
12.
I t h i n k t h e p r i n c i p a l w e a k n e s s of t h e l e g i s l a t i o n i s t h a t e n f o r c e m e n t
i n t h e c o u r t s w i l l u s u a l l y be difficult? but a g a i n s t t h i s , the l e g i s l a t i o n
m u s t b e c o m p r e h e n s i v e if i t i s t o i n f l u e n c e p u b l i c o p i n i o n a n d m u s t i n c l u d e
a l e g a l s a n c t i o n i f t h e p r o c e d u r e s f o r c o n c i l i a t i o n a r e to h a v e a c h a n c e to
succeed.
It i s a g a i n s t t h i s b a c k g r o u n d t h a t I i n v i t e m y c o l l e a g u e s t o
e n d o r s e the. p r o p o s a l s i n t h e a t t a c h e d s u m m a r y .
h, jr. c. H o m e O f f i c e , S . W . 1.
15th D e c e m b e r ,
1967
COKFIDIftiTIAL R A C E ITOMATIOKS
343
BILL Discrimination, as further defined in subsequent paragraphs, on the grounds of colour, race,^ethnic or national origin v/ill be unlawful. 2.
The Bill will extend the present definition of
discrimination as a course of conduct to include a single
act of discrimination.
2.
It will be unlawful for any person or organisation
covered by the Bill to discriminate through an agent or t o
incite, coerce or seek to persuade another person t o
discriminate.
It will be unlawful for an agent* t o
discriminate.
Places .and Services open or available to .the "public at large
h.
A person will be held to discriminate against
another
if, being the proprietor or manager of a place which is open
-v,o the public at large or to a recognised section of the
public, he refuses or neglects to afford him on grounds of
colour, race, ethnic or national origin access to the place
in question or to any facilities or services in the like
manner and on the like terms to those available to other
\ members of the public. 5 .
The provision is to be v/ide enough to include:­
(a)
Places which offer food, drink and/or overnight accommodation to the public at large with an exception for establishments which provide sleeping accommodation for four persons or less and where facilities, other than means of access, are shaded with the householder or proprietor. (b)
Places of entertainment or recreation, open to the public at large on payment or otherwise. (c)
Premises, vehicles, vessels or aircraft used for transport services available to the public. * including estate agents.
Agents for principals overseas
v/ill not be included.
See paragraph 6 for a special
provision about employment agencies.
* (d;
Persons and places offering goods, cervices or facilities to the p\iblic at large or to a particular section of- the public, including services which are not offered at a particular place, e.g. nail order firms. (e)
Commercial undertakings offering goods and services to the public at large or to a particular section of the public. *
(f)
(g)
-
/
Places of public resort maintained b y a local
/
authority or other public authority.
/
Places offered for hire to members of the public for their own functions, j
Employment 6.
An employer will be held to discriminate if he refuses
on grounds of colour, race or 'ethnic or national origin t'o
employ, or continue to employ, a' person or class of persons
or refuses or neglects to afford a person the same conditions
of employment
or opportunities of promotion as other employees
i
in like circumstances.
'
!
7-
A trade union or an employers' organisation will be held 1 -;.o discriminate if, on grounds of colour, race or ethnic or national origin, it refuses to admit persons, who are otherwise qualified, to membership or to the benefits of membership on equal terms-with other members or fails to take action on behalf of a group of its members. 8.
Notwithstanding any general provision about agents, an employment agency will be held to discriminate if, on grounds j
of colour, race or ethnic or national origin, it refuses to i
register persons who are suitable for employment
of the type dealt with by the agency, or to submit them to such employment' (whether or not in consequence of instructions from employers j utilising the services of the agency) save where the employment I is of an excepted kind. 9.
The Bill will apply to all employment
in Great Britain 345
COIh^DkNTIAh
10.
The Bill will not apply to employers with ten or less
employees.
It will contain a provision lor amending or
rescinding this figure by statutory instrument.
11.
Existing statutory restrictions on the employment of
aliens w i 1 1 be preserved.
12.
Refusal to engage a person on grounds or colour, race or ethnic or national origin will not he regarded as unlawful discrimination by an employer if he can establish that, having regard to the racial composition of an existing labour force, his action was in order to preserve a balance between the different racial groups in that labour force and that he was not otherwise pursuing a discriminatory policy.
provision should enable an employment
(This
exchange or employment agency to act on the instructions of an employer to whom it applies.) Housing and other property 13.
Subject to paragraph llj., a person disposing of housing
or other property will be held to discriminate against
another person if he refuses oi* neglects to afford him
on grounds of colour, race or ethnic or national origin
like treatment in the like manner and on the like terms
to that afforded to other- members of the public.
1h.
The Bill will apply to all the housing functions
of local authorities, to the housing functions of New Towns Development Corporations, the Commission for the New Towns and the Scottish Special Housing Association and to the activities of Housing Associations. -3­
Local authorities and. these other- bodies will be held to discriminate 11 in the discnarge oi' choir
eta tutory
^ lee
a person on
national origin like treatment in the like manner and on the like terms to that afforded to other members of the public 15*
Apart from an exemption for persons sharing accommodation v/ith tenants or lodgers, the Bill y/ili apply to all persons "including owner-occupiers, selling or letting property, including houses, fiats, land and premises, such as shops ana l a c t o n o s . 16.
The exemption will apply to the selling or letting of any living accommodation in which the vendor or. lessor, or any member or his immediate family, remains in part occupation and shares any part (other than a part used for purposes of access only) with the other occupant.
Where
a person shares his house v/ith lodgers or tenants, the exemption will only apply to those householders who accommodate not more than four lodgers or tenants. Inqhrahcq 17.
An insurer will be held to discriminate if, on grounds of colour, race or ethnic or national origin he:­
(a)
refuses insurance cover which he is prepared to . provide to other persons in like circumstances; (b)
limits the extent of the cover to less than he is prepared to provide to other persons in like circums tances and (c)
requires a higher premium than he charges other persons for the same cover in like circumstances; unless, in the case of ordinary long-term insurance or industrial assurance (i.e. "life" insurance) he has reasonable grounds - for supposing that persons of the race, ethnic or national origin of the applicant might create a risk that claims would arise at an earlier date than would other persons C r e d i t f a c i 111.1 e s 18.
Persons or organisations holding themselves out as willir. to lend to the general public will be held to discriminate if on grounds of colour, race, ethnic or national origin, they:­
(a)
refuse to enter into financial transactions or to lend money which they v/ould be prepared to lend to other persons In like circumstances; (b)
refuse to fix the same terms and conditions as for other persons in like circumstances. Advo rt isemen t s 19.
A person v/ill be held to discriminate if he publishes or allows to be published any advertisements
containing
discriminatory conditions based on colour, race, ethnic or­
national origin. Race Relations Board and Procedure for Investigating Complaint As under the present Act, the Race Relations Board will 20.
be required to appoint such local conciliation committees as it considers necessary.
These committees will retain their existing functions in relation to all complaints of discrimination under the Bill other than those in employment. In addition the Board will be required to establish machinery which, in the opinion of the Home Secretary, will be competent to deal with cases which cannot be satisfactorily settled at the local level either by the conciliation committees or in employment cases, by appropriate voluntary
conciliation machinery within industry . 21.
The Board will be given powers:­
(a)
to direct a local conciliation committee as to which complaints or classes of complaints other than complaints in employment it should deal with; (b)
to perform conciliation functions on the same lines . as a local conciliation committee either (i) where a conciliation committee or the voluntary machinery within industry has failed to secure a settlement, or (ii)
where the Board itself decides to investigate a complaint other than a complaint in employment and has directed a conciliation
committee accordingly; *It is proposed that the following undertakings should be given during the passage of the Bill through Parliament:­
,
(a)
At least three members of the Board will have experience of industrial relations and will be appointed after consultation with the C.B.I., the T.U.C. and the Minister of Labour. (b)
At least one member will have special knowledge of local authority housing and will be appointed after consultation with the Local Authority Associations and the Minister of Housing. (c)
The'Home Secretary will ensure that the machinery of the Board is such that the members who deal with employment and housing cases will include those with special experience of industrial relations and of housing respectively. (c)
to make enquiries where it has reason to "believe that discrimination is being practised
(otherwise
than on receipt of a specific complaint) and, where it appears to the Board that discrimination has occurred, to try to secure a settlement or to proceed, further as provided by the Bill; (d)
to appoint assessors to assist it in the consideration of particular cases, such assessors to have special knowledge and experience as appropriate of the circumstances in which discrimination is alleged to have occurred and of relevant local circumstances. 22.
Where the Board or a local conciliation
committee receives a - complaint of alleged, discrimination by an employer, a trade union, or an employers ' organisation,- it will be required to refer it to the Minister of Labour.
The Minister will consider whether there is, in his opinion, any suitable voluntary conciliation machinery established by agreement between organisations of employers and organisations of workers which can appropriately consider the matter.
If
such suitable machinery exists, the Minister will refer the complaint
to it.
If no such machinery exists, the Minister will refer the case to the Board.
23-
'
-
\v
The voluntary machinery will make such enquiries as it thinks necessary with respect to the facts alleged in the complaint, and will endeavour to reach a settlement.
If
it is unable to reach a settlement within four weeks of receiving the complaint Itself, or fails to reach agreement, it will report the facts to the Minister, at the same time informing him whether, in its opinion, discrimination within the terms of the Bill has taken place. 2k.
On receiving this report from the voluntary machinery the Minister of Labour will refer it to the Board. 25.
Where in the opinion of the voluntary machinery there has been no discrimination, there will be no obligation on . the Board to re-hoar the case, and no automatic right for the complainant to have his case re-heard.
Where, however, the complainant alleges to the Board that the voluntary machinery had dealt inadequately with his complaint, either because it has not given him a fair hearing or because it has reached a conclusion not justified by tho facto, it will be open to the Board, if it sees fit, to discuss tho case with the voluntary machinery, to refer the complaint bach to them for further consideration, or alternatively, to make ' its own investigations.
If, after receiving a further report from the voluntary machinery or after making its own investigations, the Board shares tho view that there has been no discrimination,
of this.
it will attempt to satisfy the complainant If he persists in his charge, the Board will tell him that the case is closed. 26.
Where the voluntary machinery reports that it has been unable to reach agreement among itself or to reach a settlement, when in its opinion discrimination has occurred,
or where after further investigation (as provided for in pnrngi-aph 25 above) the Board itself roaches this conclusion despite a report to tho contrary by the voluntary machinery, the Board will attempt
to roach a settlement with the employer or trade union concerned.
If it fails it may take further action as appropriate under the provisions of the Bill. 27.
Where the Board or a local conciliation committee
a complaint of alleged discrimination by a private
receive
employment
agency, the Board will, if the complaint does not appear to
involve discrimination by an employer, deal with the
through its own machinery for handling employment
complaint
cases.
Wnere the complaint appears to involve discrimination by an
employer rather than by the agency, the Board will refer the
complaint to the Minister of Labour who will refer it to any
suitable voluntary machinery covering that
28.
employer.
If complaints are made direct to the Minister of Labour he will refer them to any suitable voluntary machinery or, failing that, to the Board.
If complaintc are made direct to the voluntary machinery they will be considered by it and the outcome reported to the Minister. Enforcement
29.
I n England and Wales,
d e s i g n a t e d County C o u r t s ,
with
two a s s e s s o r s
enforcement v/ill be through t h e presiding judges sitting selected
from
a panel appointed by t h e Lord Chancellor. 30.
Individual plaintiffs will not be able to institute proceedings- before the designated Courts.
The power to do s o v/ill lie solely w i t h the Race Relations Board.
Board can establish t h a t
Where the discrimination has occurred in contravention of the Bill it will be empowered to seek from t h e Courts an injunction to restrain further acts of discrimination or such other injunction as may in the opinion of
the Courts, b o appropriate.
It v/ill also be empowered to seek damages on behalf of someone against whom discrimination has been established for provable loss directly resulting from the act of discrimination. 31.
The designated Courts will have sole jurisdiction, with the normal rights of appeal.
The County Court limit o n damages will not apply. 32
u
Comparable arrangements in Scotland will be necessary. Community Relations B o a r d
33.
The Home Secretary v/ill be empowered to appoint a
Community Relations Board to replace the National Committee
for Commonwealth Immigrants.
(a)
Its terms of reference will be
to promote and co-ordinate o n a national basis
efforts to secure harmonious relations between
people of different race, colour or ethnic or
national origin within the c iumunity and,
i n particular to
(l) provide a comprehensive advisory service for
local
organisations concerned with community
re1at i o n s ,
and
i)
provide an information service, training courses and coi-- erences;
to advise on questions referred to them by the
none S e c r e t a r y a n d
ecommeridations to him
on matters which they consider should be brought
to his attention, and
to sake such grants to assist such local organisations
concerned with race relations as the Home Secretary
may w i t h the consent of the Treasury, approve.
5k.
phe Board will have power, subject to the Home Secretary's
approval, to appoint such advisory bodies for such purposes
as it considers necessary.
'.'.'he Crown
53.
The Bill will bind the Crown except that it will not be
open to the Pace Relations Board to proceed against the Crown
in the Courts.
The Bill will preserve the nationality rules
for the Civil Service, the Diplomatic Service and the Armed
Forbes and the Crown's discretion, in dealing with cases where
security is involved;
and will provide special machinery for
dealing with cases affecting the Public Services.
Research
bo.
The Bill will provide that the Home Secretary may conduct
or assist other persons in conducting research into any
matter connected with race relations and that any expenditure
incurred with the consent of the Treasury w i l l be defrayed
out of moneys provided by Parliament.
FINANCE AMD
STAFF
In his memorandum to the home Affairs Committee
(H(67)7^)
m y predecessor estimated that the effect of his proposals
would he to increase the staff of the Race Relations Board
to about eight officers at Headquarters, 13 conciliation
officers in the field and appropriate supporting staff,
and that its current budget of £ 6 0 , 0 0 0 a year might rise to
about £1 5 0 , 0 0 0
- £175,000.
This is still the best estimate
but the Treasury have now agreed to carry out an 0 & M
enquiry into the future organisation of the Board to meet
its new responsibilities and more precise figures should
be available in due course.
^T-he Minister of Labour
estimates that the proposals will not involve any increase
in his departmental staff beyond those already engaged on
race relations work.
It is not possible at this stage
to estimate the additional cost of the proposed enforcement
procedures through designated County Courts since this
will depend on the number of cases coming to the Courts.