Further to my earlier posts, Nazia Kosar has kindly replied.

While the reply is reasonable, I also believe it is wrong. The following is my response:

I do appreciate you taking the time to reply.

Unfortunately, I do not accept that what the law “allows” is the same as what should be done by an employer keen on embracing genuine equality. Frankly I do not care what the colour make-up is of any company or governmental department and any emphasis placed on this suggests that there is something to be gained by an employer if the ‘correct’ proportion of staff are of one colour or another.

I think everyone would accept that different cultures place different priorities on their children so, for example, people brought up under the cultural values of the Indian subcontinent may be more likely to train to be doctors or lawyers. If there is are disproportionate number of applications being received for posts in the civil service, that should be thought of as it is, an interesting statistical anomaly.

I agree that mentioning your disability program highlights consistent failures to treat all humans as equal, but the case for disabled people to be treated differently has a little more common sense behind it - disabled people really are not able to do particular things related to their disability as easily as able-bodied people. Lending assistance to those not so capable is humane, lending a hand to people because they are of a different ethnic group is negative discrimination.

Having read your reply, though, I accept that the argument should be taken to the lawmakers rather than those following it to the letter and I am satisfied that the Civil Service is not going to change its policies on the back of letters from the public.

Thank you again for your reply and kind regards,

Gavin Ayling


Posted In: Race Relations