From House of Commons Hansard
Written Answers: 3rd November 2005

House of Commons Commission

3 Nov 2005 : Column 1267W

Equal Opportunities

Sarah Teather: To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what equal opportunities strategy the House has in place. [24501]

Nick Harvey: The House of Commons Service’s commitment to equal opportunities is set out at the beginning of the Staff Handbook:

“The House of Commons Service recognises and values the diversity of its staff and is committed to developing working practices which allow every member of staff to contribute his or her best, regardless of race, sex, marital status, religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or any other irrelevant factor.”

The handbook, which also contains detailed policies and procedures to underpin this policy, is available on the Parliamentary intranet.

A five-year diversity strategy and action plan is currently being prepared by the Diversity Forum, a House-wide group of staff which promotes diversity initiatives across the House service.

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