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Race Relations Act 1968

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SCHEDULES.

Section 14.

SCHEDULE 1Provisions as to the Race Relations Board and Conciliation Committees.

The Race Relations Board

1The Race Relations Board shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal.

2A person appointed to be a member of the Board shall hold and vacate office under the terms of the instrument by which he is appointed, but may at any time resign his office ; and a person who ceases to hold office as a member of the Board shall be eligible for reappointment.

3The Board may appoint such officers and servants as they may, after consultation with the Secretary of State and with the consent of the Treasury, determine ; and the Board shall be included among the bodies listed in Schedule 8 to the [1965 c. 74.] Superannuation Act 1965.

4(1)The Secretary of State shall pay to the members of the Board such remuneration and allowances as he may, with the consent of the Treasury, determine.

(2)The Board shall pay to any assessors appointed by them under section 18 of this Act and to the officers and servants of the Board such remuneration and allowances as they may, with the consent of the Treasury and after consultation with the Secretary of State, determine.

5There shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament the expenses of the Secretary of State under paragraph 4(1) of this Schedule, together with the expenses of the Board under paragraph 4(2) thereof and, to such amount as the Secretary of State may with the consent of the Treasury approve, any other expenses of the Board.

Conciliation committees

6The Chairman and other members of a conciliation committee shall be appointed by the Board.

7Paragraph 2 of this Schedule shall apply in relation to a conciliation committee as it applies in relation to the Board.

8The Board may pay to members of a conciliation committee, and to persons assisting in or concerned with the carrying out of the functions of any such committee, travelling or other allowances in accordance with such scales as may be approved by the Secretary of State with the consent of the Treasury, and

may defray any other expenses of such committees to such amount as may be so approved.

Proceedings of the Board and committees

9The validity of any proceedings of the Board, a group of members of the Board or a conciliation committee shall not be affected by any vacancy among the members or by any defect in the appointment of any member.

10The quorum of the Board or a group of members of the Board and the arrangements relating to meetings of the Board or any such group shall be such as the Board may determine.

11The quorum of a conciliation committee and the arrangements relating to meetings of such a committee shall be such as the committee may determine.

Disqualification for Membership of Parliament

12In Part II of Schedule 1 to the [1957 c. 20.] House of Commons Disqualification Act 1957 (bodies of which all members are disqualified under this Act), both in its application to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and in its application to the Senate and House of Commons of Northern Ireland, for the entry relating to the Race Relations Board there shall be substituted the entry " The Race Relations Board and any conciliation committee constituted by the Board under section 14 of the Race Relations Act 1968 ".

Section 16.

SCHEDULE 2Complaints relating to Employment, Trade Unions and Organisations of Employers.

1It shall be the duty of any authority mentioned in section 16 of this Act to receive any complaint to which that section applies and which is made to them within two months of the act complained of and also, if the Race Relations Board think that special circumstances warrant its reception, any complaint made to the authority after the expiration of that period, if in either case the complaint is accompanied by the name and address of the person by whom it is made and, in the case of an act of discrimination against any person, it is made by him or with his written authorisation, and, subject to paragraphs 13 and 16 below, the authority shall, if not the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, refer any complaint received by them under this paragraph to him.

2Where any such complaint is referred or made to the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity then, subject to those paragraphs, the Secretary of State shall—

(a)if satisfied that there is a body of persons suitable to consider that complaint, refer it to that body for investigation by them ;

(b)if not, refer it to the Board for investigation by them or a conciliation committee.

3A body of persons investigating a complaint referred to them under this Schedule—

(a)shall make such inquiries as they think necessary with respect to the facts alleged in the complaint and form an opinion whether any person has done any act which is unlawful by virtue of any provision of Part I of this Act; and

(b)in the case of a complaint that the act was one of discrimination against a particular person, shall use their best endeavours by communication with the parties concerned or otherwise to secure a settlement of any difference between them and, where appropriate, a satisfactory assurance against any repetition of the act considered to be unlawful or the doing of further acts of a similar kind by the party against whom the complaint was made; and

(c)in the case of any other complaint, shall, where appropriate, use their best endeavours to secure such an assurance as aforesaid.

4A body of persons to whom a complaint is referred under this Schedule shall, on the expiration of the period of four weeks from the reference of the complaint to them or on completion of their investigation, whichever occurs first, report to the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether in their opinion an act has been done which is unlawful by virtue of any provision of Part I of this Act and, if so, whether they have been able to secure such a settlement and assurance or, as the case may be, such an assurance as are mentioned in paragraph 3 above.

5Where the Secretary of State—

(a)receives a report from a body of persons under paragraph 4 above that they have failed within the said period of four weeks to secure such a settlement and assurance, or, as the case may be, such an assurance ; or

(b)receives no report under that paragraph from such a body;

he may after consultation with the Race Relations Board request that body to continue to investigate the matter for a specified period or to cease investigating it.

6Where the Secretary of State requests a body of persons to continue as aforesaid, paragraphs 3 to 5 above shall apply to the complaint as they apply to a complaint on its original reference under this Schedule with the substitution of references to the specified period for references to the said period of four weeks.

7A body of persons to whom a complaint is referred under this Schedule shall, on completion of their investigation, give a written notification to the parties stating—

(a)whether or not they have been able to form an opinion with respect to the complaint and, if they have, what opinion ;

(b)whether or not they have secured such a settlement and assurance or, as the case may be, such an assurance as are mentioned in paragraph 3 above ; and

(c)that they will report to the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity on their investigation ;

and stating the rights of any party aggrieved by the conclusion or any other decision of that body.

8Where in pursuance of paragraph 5 above the Secretary of State requests a body of persons to whom a complaint has been referred under this Schedule to cease investigating the complaint, he shall refer the complaint to the Race Relations Board and it shall be the duty of the Board to investigate it.

9Where the Race Relations Board are notified by any of the parties that he is aggrieved by a decision of any body of persons to whom a complaint has been referred under this Schedule, then, subject to the following provisions of this Schedule, the Board may determine that the complaint be not further entertained or may refer the complaint back to that body for further investigation or may investigate it themselves, and where the Board refer the complaint back to that body, paragraphs 3, 4, 7 and 8 above shall apply to the complaint as they apply to a complaint referred to such a body by the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity-

(a)with the substitution for references to the Secretary of State of references to the Board ; and

(b)with the omission in paragraphs 4 and 8 of any reference to any period or to dealing with a complaint within or after the end of a period.

10Where the Race Relations Board are notified by any of the parties that he is aggrieved by any such decision and it appears to the Board that that decision was not disputed by him within a week of his being given a written notification of the decision in accordance with paragraph 7 above, or within such further period as the Board may in special circumstances allow, the Board shall disregard the notification under paragraph 9 above.

11Where a complaint originally referred to a body of persons by the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity under this Schedule is again referred to them by the Race Relations Board for further consideration and that body reports to the Board that they have been unable to secure such a settlement and assurance or, as the case may be, such an assurance as are mentioned in paragraph 3 above or where it appears to the Board that that body have been unable to secure such a settlement and assurance, or, as the case may be, such an assurance, the Board may investigate the complaint themselves or determine that it be not further entertained.

12Subject to paragraphs 13 to 15 below, where a complaint is referred to the Board under this Schedule, section 15(2) to (6) of this Act shall apply to the complaint as those subsections apply to a complaint to which the said section 15 applies and which is received by the Board, except that section 15(2)(a) and (5) of this Act shall not apply to a complaint referred to the Board under paragraph 8 above.

13Where it appears to the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity or the Race Relations Board on receiving a complaint to which section 16 of this Act applies or on the reference to the Secretary of State of such a complaint by a conciliation committee, that the complaint may relate to an act done in breach of a relevant assurance, then, notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Schedule, the Secretary of State shall refer the complaint to the Board, or, as the case may be, the Board shall retain the complaint, for investigation in accordance with paragraph 14 below.

14Where a complaint falls to be investigated in accordance with this paragraph, the Race Relations Board shall either investigate it themselves or—

(a)if there is a body of persons notified to them by the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity as being a body suitable to consider the complaint, refer it to them for investigation ;

(b)if there is not, refer it to a conciliation committee for investigation.

15Where on investigating a complaint under this Schedule the Board or any such body or committee form the opinion that an act has been done which is unlawful by virtue of any provision of Part I of this Act, they shall also form an opinion whether it was done in breach of a relevant assurance ; and—

(a)where any such committee form the opinion that it was done in breach of such an assurance, they may, without more, report that fact to the Board ;

(b)where any such body of persons form that opinion, they may, without more, report that fact to the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity and the Board ; and

(c)where the Board form that opinion or where they receive a report made by any such committee or body under this paragraph, they may, without more, determine to bring proceedings under section 19 or 20 of this Act.

16Where it appears to the authority to whom a complaint to which section 16 of this Act applies is made that an act which is the subject of the complaint relates to employment and that it was done by a person acting as agent for another person but without the authorisation of that other person, the authority shall—

(a)if the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, refer it to the Race Relations Board ; and

(b)if not, deal with it as if it were a complaint to which section 15 of this Act applies ;

and in either event the provisions of the said section 15 shall, notwithstanding anything in section 16(1) of this Act, apply to the complaint accordingly and if the complaint was originally made to the Secretary of State or a conciliation committee shall so apply as if it had been made to the Board.

Section 17.

SCHEDULE 3Investigation of Unlawful Conduct where no Complaint Made.

PART INormal Provisions as to Investigations

1The Race Relations Board may themselves investigate or may refer to a conciliation committee a matter which falls to be investigated under this Part of this Schedule, and it shall be the duty of a committee to whom a matter is referred under this paragraph to investigate the matter.

2In investigating any matter under this Part of this Schedule the Board or a conciliation committee—

(a)shall make such inquiries as they think necessary with regard thereto and form an opinion whether any person has done any act which is unlawful by virtue of any provision of Part I of this Act; and

(b)where the investigation relates to an act suspected of amounting to discrimination against a particular person, shall use their best endeavours by communication with the persons concerned or otherwise to secure a settlement of any difference between them and, where appropriate, a satisfactory written assurance against any repetition of the act considered to be unlawful or the doing of further acts of a similar kind by the person by whom it was done; and

(c)where the investigation does not so relate, shall, where appropriate, use their best endeavours to secure such an assurance as aforesaid.

3If on investigating any matter the Board form the opinion that an act has been done which is unlawful by virtue of any provision of Part I of this Act and either they are unable to secure such a settlement and assurance, or, as the case may be, such an assurance, as aforesaid, or it appears to them that the act was done in breach of a relevant assurance, they shall determine whether or not to bring proceedings under section 19 or 20 of this Act.

4If on investigating any matter a conciliation committee form the opinion that any such act as aforesaid has been done and either they are unable to secure such a settlement and assurance, or, as the case may be, such an assurance as aforesaid, or it appears to them that the act was done in breach of a relevant assurance, they shall make a report to that effect to the Race Relations Board and the Board shall consider the report and shall either investigate the matter themselves or, without investigating it, determine whether or not to bring proceedings under section 19 or 20 of this Act.

5Where the Board or a conciliation committee investigate any matter under this Part of this Schedule they shall on completing the investigation give a written notification to the persons appearing to them to be concerned stating—

(a)whether or not they have been able to form an opinion with respect to the matter and, if they have, what opinion;

(b)whether or not they have secured such a settlement and assurance or, as the case may be, such an assurance as are mentioned in paragraph 2 above ; and

(c)what action if any they propose to take with respect to the matter.

6Where the Board come to a determination under paragraph 4 above without investigating a matter, they shall give a written notification to the persons appearing to them to be concerned of their determination.

PART IIInvestigation of Matters Relating to Employment, Trade Unions and Organisations of Employers

7Subject to paragraphs 18 and 21 below, the Race Relations Board shall not in the first instance investigate any matter falling to be investigated under this Part of this Schedule, but shall refer it to the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, and (subject as aforesaid) the Secretary of State shall—

(a)if satisfied that there is a body of persons suitable to consider any matter referred to him under this paragraph, refer it to that body for investigation by them ;

(b)if not, refer it to the Board for investigation by them or by a conciliation committee.

8A body of persons investigating any matter referred to them under this Part of this Schedule—

(a)shall make such inquiries as they think necessary with respect thereto and form an opinion whether any person has done any act which is unlawful by virtue of any provision of Part I of this Act; and

(b)where the investigation relates to an act suspected of amounting to discrimination against a particular person, shall use their best endeavours by communication with the persons concerned or otherwise to secure a settlement of any difference between them and, where appropriate, a satisfactory assurance against any repetition of the act considered to be unlawful or the doing of further acts of a similar kind by the person by whom it was done ; and

(c)where the investigation does not so relate, shall, where appropriate, use their best endeavours to secure such an assurance as aforesaid.

9A body of persons to whom a matter is referred under this Schedule shall, on the expiration of the period of four weeks from the reference of the matter to them or on completion of their investigation, whichever occurs first, report to the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether in their opinion an act has been done which is unlawful by virtue of any provision of Part I of this Act and, if so, whether they have been able to secure such a settlement and assurance or, as the case may be, such an assurance as are mentioned in paragraph 8 above.

10Where the Secretary of State—

(a)receives a report from a body of persons under paragraph 9 above that they have failed within the said period of four weeks to secure such a settlement and assurance or, as the case may be, such an assurance ; or

(b)receives no report under that paragraph from such a body;

he may after consultation with the Race Relations Board request that body to continue to investigate the matter for a specified period or to cease investigating it.

11Where the Secretary of State requests a body of persons to continue as aforesaid, paragraphs 8 to 10 above shall apply to the investigation as they apply to an investigation on its original reference under this Part of this Schedule with the substitution of references to the specified period for references to the said period of four weeks.

12A body of persons to whom a matter is referred under this Part of this Schedule shall, on completion of their investigation, give a written notification to the persons appearing to them to be concerned stating—

(a)whether or not they have been able to form an opinion with respect to the matter and, if they have, what opinion ;

(b)whether or not they have secured such a settlement and assurance or, as the case may be, such an assurance as are mentioned in paragraph 8 above ; and

(c)that they will report to the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity on their investigation ;

and stating the rights of any such person who is aggrieved by the conclusion or any other decision of that body.

13Where in pursuance of paragraph 10 above the Secretary of State requests a body of persons to whom a matter has been referred under this Part of this Schedule to cease investigating the matter, he shall refer the matter to the Race Relations Board and it shall be the duty of the Board to investigate it.

14Where the Race Relations Board are notified by any person appearing to them to be concerned that he is aggrieved by a decision of any body of persons to whom a matter has been referred under this Schedule, then, subject to the following provisions of this Schedule, the Board may determine that the matter be not further investigated or may refer it back to that body for further investigation or may investigate it themselves, and where the Board refer the matter back to that body, paragraphs 8, 9, 12 and 13 above shall apply to the matter as they apply to a matter referred to such a body by the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity—

(a)with the substitution for references to the Secretary of State of references to the Board ; and

(b)with the omission in paragraphs 9 and 13 of any reference to any period or to dealing with a matter within or after the end of a period.

15Where the Race Relations Board are notified by any such person that he is aggrieved by any such decision and it appears to the Board that that decision was not disputed by him within a week of his being given a written notification of the decision in accordance with paragraph 12 above, or within such further period as the Board may in special circumstances allow, the Board shall disregard the notification under paragraph 14 above.

16Where a matter originally referred to a body of persons by the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity under this Schedule is again referred to them by the Race Relations Board for further consideration and that body reports to the Board that they have been unable to secure such a settlement and assurance or, as the case may be, such an assurance as are mentioned in paragraph 8 above or where it appears to the Board that that body have been unable to secure such a settlement and assurance, or, as the case may be, such an assurance, the Board may investigate the matter themselves or determine that it be not further investigated.

17Subject to paragraphs 18 to 20 below, where a matter falling to be investigated under this Part of this Schedule is referred to the Board thereunder, Part I of this Schedule shall apply to the matter as it applies to a matter falling to be investigated under that Part of this Schedule, except that so much of paragraph 1 as provides for the reference of a matter to a conciliation committee and paragraphs 4 and 6 of this Schedule shall not apply to a matter referred to the Board under paragraph 13 above.

18Where it appears to the Race Relations Board on first considering a matter falling to be investigated under this Part of this Schedule that it may relate to an act done in breach of a relevant assurance, then, notwithstanding anything in paragraph 7 above, the Board shall retain the complaint for investigation in accordance with paragraph 19 below.

19Where a matter falls to be investigated in accordance with this paragraph, the Race Relations Board shall either investigate it themselves or—

(a)if there is a body of persons notified to them by the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity as being a body suitable to consider the matter, refer it to them for investigation ;

(b)if there is not, refer it to a conciliation committee for investigation.

20Where on investigating a matter under this Part of this Schedule the Board or any such body or committee form the opinion that an act has been done which is unlawful by virtue of any provision of Part I of this Act, they shall also form an opinion whether the act was done in breach of a relevant assurance; and—

(a)where any such committee form the opinion that it was done in breach of such an assurance they may, without more, report that fact to the Board ;

(b)where any such body form that opinion, they may, without more, report that fact to the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity and the Board; and

(c)where the Board form that opinion or where they receive a report made by any such committee or body under this paragraph, they may, without more, determine to bring proceedings under section 19 or 20 of this Act.

21Where it appears to the Race Relations Board that an act suspected of being unlawful by virtue of any provision of Part I of this Act relates to employment and that it was done by a person acting as agent for another person, but without the authority of that other person, the Board shall deal with it as a matter falling to be investigated under Part I of this Schedule, and that Part of this Schedule shall, notwithstanding anything in section 17 of this Act, apply to the investigation of the matter accordingly.

Section 25.

SCHEDULE 4Provisions as to the Community Relations Commission.

1A person appointed to be a member of the Community Relations Commission shall hold and vacate office under the terms of the instrument by which he is appointed, but may at any time resign his office ; and a person who ceases to hold office as a member of the Commission shall be eligible for reappointment.

2The Commission may appoint such officers and servants as they may, after consultation with the Secretary of State and with the consent of the Treasury, determine.

3The Secretary of State shall pay to the members of the Commission such remuneration and allowances as he may, with the consent of the Treasury, determine.

4The Commission shall pay to their officers and servants such remuneration as they may, with the consent of the Treasury and after consultation with the Secretary of State, determine.

5The Commission may, in the case of such of its members, officers and servants as the Secretary of State may with the approval of the Treasury determine, pay to or in respect of them such pensions or gratuities, or make such payments towards the provision of pensions or gratuities, as may be so determined.

6There shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament the expenses of the Secretary of State under paragraph 3 above, together with the expenses of the Commission under paragraph 4 or 5 above and, to such amount as the Secretary of State may with the consent of the Treasury approve, any other expenses of the Commission.

7Notwithstanding anything in paragraph 6 above, the Commission may accept financial assistance otherwise than out of moneys provided by Parliament towards the defraying of their expenses.

8In Part II of Schedule 1 to the [1957 c. 20.] House of Commons Disqualification Act 1957 (bodies of which all members are disqualified under that Act), in its application to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, there shall be inserted (at the appropriate point in alphabetical order) the entry " The Community Relations Commission ".

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