CURRENT ISSUES
NCVO ETHNIC MINORITY DIGEST
December 1985
According to the 'New Statesman' a report on the work of local DHSS offices, which included derogatory comments made by staff about Black people, has been published in an expurgated form. The Policy Studies Institute report, originally completed 18 months prior to publication was also leaked to BBC television's 'Panorama', which quoted statements by DHSS staff which included the words 'coon' and 'Jewboy' these have been deleted from the published version. (Runnymede Trust Bulletin, November 1985)
During the first 11 months of 1985, 1,733 racial attacks were carried out in the Metropolitan Police area, according to provisional figures, provided by Under Secretary of State, David Mellor, in a Commons written answer. This compares with 1,280 such attacks in 1983 and 1,515 in 1984. (GLC Daily Intelligence Bulletin 11.12.85)
White children at a primary school in Keighley, near Bradford, where 90% of the children are Asian, do better than the national average in reading and arithmetic, according to tests run by the head teacher. A report in the 'Times Educational Supplement (11.10.85) commented that the findings challenge Ray Honeyford's belief that white children's education suffers when they are in a minority.. (Runnymede Trust Bulletin, December 1985)
It is thought that thousands of children waiting to join their fathers in Britain may now bypass the queues at consular posts in Asia and fly here to press their claims to British citizenship, after a ruling from an Immigration Appeal Tribunal. The ruling applies to children of men who settled in the UK and acquired citizenship before marrying and starting families which have remained at home in their countries of origin. (Guardian 12.12.85)
The British Association of Social Workers has finally decided to sever its links with Barclays because of the bank's close involvement with the apartheid regime in South Africa. The decision approved by an overwhelming majority of council delegates despite warnings that the transfer of the Association's account to another bank would probably entail substantial administrative costs.(Social Work Today 9.12.85)
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After its Autumn assembly at which nine representatives reported on their visit to South Africa last September, the British Council of Churches called on the government to impose 'carefully targeted sanctions to end apartheid'. BCC policy that churches financial authorities should not invest in companies heavily involved in the South African economy was also reaffirmed. (Guardian 27.11.85).
A decision by the British organisers of the World Archaeological Congress, due to be Gal held in Southampton next September, to 'disinvite' participants from South Africa has set off an acrimonious row between opponents of apartheid and proponents of academic freedom. Pressure to disinvite came from many directions including: the Association of University Teachers; the Southampton Students Union, which threatened demonstrations and a ban on the use of its buildings; Southampton City Council, which would have withdrawn a £100,000 grant; and the Anti-Apartheid Movement. Opponents of the ban question its legality. The congress is held under th auspices of the International Union of Prehistoric and Proto-historic Sciences, who statutes say it must accept participation of scholars from all countries. The Executive Committee will dicuss the issue in Paris in January. (Sunday Times 1.12.85)
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