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Presents news items concerning British public finance during the week ended March 2, 2000. Includes members of parliament's plan to conduct an inquiry into the funding of London Underground Ltd.; Proposed inquiry into the finances of the Commission for Racial Equality; Department of Education and Employment's program to promote lifelong learning.

Reports that the Great Britain Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) is urging public authority purchasers to check their suppliers to make sure they are promoting equal employment opportunities. Launch of CRE guide for race equality and procurement in local government; Provisions of the Race Relations Act 2000; Promotion of good management practice.

Comments on discrimination and racism in Great Britain. Factors that contribute to racial discrimination in the country; Efforts of the Commission for Racial Equality to eliminate discrimination and racism; Media debate on the issue.

The article reports that the Luton Borough Council in England is among a number of councils praised for best practice in the British Commission for Racial Equality compliance report. According to the borough's equalities head Valerie Grant, the borough, which has a big ethnic minority population, applies race equality practice to gender, disability, faith, age and sexual orientation practices.

The article reports on the call of the Commission for Racial Equality to amend the new mental health legislation to promote racial equality in Great Britain. The call has resulted from the investigation conducted by the Commission to the Department of Health. According to Andy Bell, chair of the mental Health Alliance, the Mental Health Bill presents a good opportunity for race equality to be written into law.

Reports on British Commission for Racial Equality chairman Trevor Philips' plan to take the government to court over plans to allow universities to charge students up to £3,000 in tuition. Negative impact of the move on minority students.

Reports that a North Wales council served with the first compliance notice by the Commission for Racial Equality has blamed lack of staff time for delays in producing a race equality policy in Wales. Failure of Conwy County Borough Council to respond properly to a warning letter in April 2003; Requirement for public authorities to legally produce a policy which sets out how they propose to promote race equality.

Reports that Trevor Phillips, chair of the London Assembly, is being groomed to be the next head of the British Commission for Racial Equality. Career history; Education and expertise; Tasks and responsibilities in the commission.

Reports on the resignation of Gurbux Singh as chair of the Commission for Racial Equality in Great Britain in August 2002. Reason for his decision to resign; Penalty imposed against Singh; Comment from Home Office minister Lord Filkin on the resignation of Singh.

Focuses on the inaccuracies of the Race Relations Act, 2000 in Great Britain. Efforts of the government to stamp race discrimination; Promotion of race equality by local authorities; Enforcement of statutory duties by the Commission for Racial Equality.

Reports that British Commission for Racial Equality chairman, Gurbux Singh, called for changes on the conduct of coordination between councils and local communities following incidents of race riots. Impact of social deprivation and a lack of access to high-quality public services on peace and order in councils; Promotion of people empowerment and empathy towards each other.

Focuses on the proposal by the Great Britain Commission for Racial Equality for members of the London Funders Group (LFG) to guarantee that the projects they finance develop strategies that combat racism. Entities that comprise the membership of the LFG; Benefits of promoting anti-racism strategies.

Focuses on the need for realistic civil service goals for the employment of ethnic minority staff in public services in Great Britain. Disappointment of Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) Chairman Gurbux Singh on the Whitehall civil service goals; Percentage of ethnic minorities in Whitehall for 2005; Partnership of CRE with other agencies.

Reports that the Commission for Racial Equality has been asked by the socia security select committee to investigate Sema, the private company that assesses medical benefit claims in Great Britain, after finding evidence of racism and poor service standards. Absence of effective guidelines and training for doctors on dealing with disabled and ethnic minorities; Highlights of the committee's report on the issue.

Reports on the internal inquiry to be conducted by the British Crown Prosecution Service into allegations of racism within the department prior to the formal inquiry by the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE). CRE directive instructing the department to develop an action plan for curbing racism and improving the career prospects of blacks and Asian lawyers; Racial discrimination charges filed against the department.

Presents survey results indicating that the British local government does not have a single black finance director. Race statistics on assistant directors and deputy chief officers; Reaction of the Commission for Racial Equality on the figures and on the inability of local government to promote racial equality; Failure of non-white officials to advance in organizational structures.

Reports that Queen Elizabeth II has omitted references to race and sex equality in her speech before the British Parliament. Reactions of the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality to the omission; Provisions of the Home Office's Race Relations Bill; Need for employment protection to gays and lesbians.

Reports on Great Britain Commission for Racial Equality chairman Herman Ouseley's accusation against councils for their race relations record. Statutory duty of councils under the 1992 Race Relations Act; Local Government Association's survey which shows the percentage of authorities without equal opportunities monitoring in place; Small percentage of ethnic minorities holding key positions in councils.

Reports that European funding for local projects can weaken local control, according to a report for the Commission for Local Democracy.