UN INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION (No. 2)

That this House welcomes the 2017 UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination as an opportunity to reaffirm and demonstrate its commitment to eradicating unlawful racial discrimination and promoting racial equality in the UK; is deeply concerned that 40 years after the 1976 Race Relations Act came into force people of BAME origin are still significantly under-represented in many key areas of public life, including membership of this House; notes the disturbing findings of the Equality and Human Rights Commission's major review of race equality in the UK, Healing a divided Britain: the need for a comprehensive race equality strategy, and its stark warning that failure to tackle deep-rooted race inequality will exacerbate divisions in our society unless urgent Government action is taken; further notes the significant challenges identified in Baroness McGregor-Smith's recently published review of race in the workplace and its clear message that the time for talking is over. Now is the time to act; calls on the Government and employers to implement the 26 recommendations of the McGregor-Smith review without delay; and further calls on the Government to develop and implement a comprehensive race equality strategy in line with the five recommendations of the Equality and Human Rights Commission's review as a matter of urgency.