IT is commendable that the Home Secretary, Jack Straw, has demanded an ethnic breakdown of his staff as a lead to other government departments to do the same.

Mr Straw's promise was made soon after concern from Sir Herman Ouseley, chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, about the lack of development of blacks and Asians in the highest levels of political, economic and social spheres.

There is nothing wrong in promoting the equality of opportunities where everyone can compete without fear of discrimination based on gender, race or religion, and based purely on the strength of ability and merit. But Sir Herman should also consider a review of the CRE and its management of the racial equality councils.

Each year, the Commission allocates huge sums of money to support the largely inefficient RECs. The majority of the racial equality councils fail to address the issues of racial harassment and racial intolerance. Many are, instead, established as male-dominated political platforms, promoting inequality and disorder towards some black and Asian community groups, on the grounds of gender, religion and even ethnicity. There is a clear need for Sir Herman and the CRE to play an equal part if we are all going to share the Prime Minister's vision of a 'one nation' society based on fairness and justice.

The noble response would be to recognise the need for a change, abolish and re-allocate the financial support towards more efficient, responsible and accountable organisations such as Victim Support, Samaritans and Citizens Advice Bureaux.

The local authorities and other government-sponsored agencies have an equal responsibility to recognise some RECs' failures to meet the needs of all members of the community, and withdraw all financial support.

CONCERNED Asian, name and address received

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.