Police (Northern Ireland) Bill — Discrimination in appointments — 21 Nov 2000

Lords amendment agreed to.

Lords amendments Nos. 27 and 28 agreed to.

Lords amendment: No. 29, in page 13, line 9, leave out from ("make") to ("to") in line 10 and insert ("arrangements").

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Sylvia Heal):

With this it will be convenient to discuss Lords amendments Nos. 30 to 56.

Lords amendment agreed to.

Lords amendments Nos. 30 to 56 agreed to.

Lords amendment: No. 57, in page 16, line 40, leave out ("have regard to") and insert ("be guided by").

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

Madam Deputy Speaker:

With this it will be convenient to discuss Lords amendment No. 88 and amendment (a) thereto, and Lords amendments Nos. 89 to 92 and 106.

so far as is practicable.

The tutor's knowledge about human rights appeared to be weak.

The training appeared to be done in a vacuum.

The Commission found little evidence of training in international standards other than those in the ECHR or of benchmarking of progress through the training to that date.

Lords amendment agreed to.

Lords amendment No. 58 agreed to.

Lords amendment: No. 59, in page 21, line 27, at end insert--

("( ) In making regulations under this section, the Secretary of State shall have regard, in particular, to the need to secure that information is not disclosed contrary to the public interest.")

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

Madam Deputy Speaker:

With this it will be convenient to discuss Lords amendments Nos. 60 to 62, 64, 65, 67 and 138.

Before making or revising its action plan, the Board shall consult--

(a) the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland;

(b) the Chief Constable; and

(c) the Secretary of State.

we have been persuaded by the Police Federation and individual officers who commented on the present uniform that it is somewhat outdated and we recommend that a new, more practical style of uniform be provided to police officers.

It is the Commission's view that goals and timetables and affirmative action measures which are currently lawful under the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 are unlikely to produce the necessary change in the composition of the police for a considerable period . . . the Commission believes that the creation of a police service which is representative of the community is essential both to the effectiveness of the police service and to the establishment of a peaceful Northern Ireland.

Lords amendment agreed to.

Lords amendment No. 60 agreed to.

Lords amendment: No. 61, in page 22, line 22, at end insert--

("(3A) No order may be made under subsection (2) as a result of subsection (3)(b) which has the effect, as respects an occasion specified in the order, of requiring more than three-quarters of the persons appointed on that occasion to be--

(a) the persons who are treated as Roman Catholic; or

(b) the persons who are not so treated.")

Motion made, and Question put, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.-- [Mr. Ingram.]

The House divided: Ayes 293, Noes 122.

Historical Hansard | Online Hansard |