THE "equality industry" is wasting taxpayers' money, Finance Minister Sammy Wilson told the House of Commons yesterday.
The East Antrim DUP MP outlined his opposition to the costly “equality industry” during Northern Ireland Questions.
Stressing that he was not opposed with the principle of equality, Mr Wilson said: ”Over the last 10 years or so we have seen the em
ergence of various quangos, all of which are connected in one way or another with promoting equality and at the same time the Government has been churning out reams of legislation connected with promoting equality.”
Mr Wilson said that millions of pounds from public funds was being “pumped into” the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, Equality Commission and Office of the Children’s Commissioner.
“The functions performed by these three bodies could be exercised by one streamlined commission.
“There is clearly scope for saving taxpayers’ money by merging the three commissions and downsizing the size of the quango that is produced as a result of the merger.
“The vast reams of legislation that have been produced in the name of equality have served to make an awful lot of lawyers an awful lot richer, whilst doing a limited amount to advance the role of minority groups in our society.
“It is important in the current economic climate that government is streamlined, efficient and cost-effective.”
