'Name-blind' applications needed for greater equality - Featherstone

12.40.26pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 14th May 2008

Anonymous job application forms, in a bid to end discrimination in employment selection, have been announced by Liberal Democrat Youth and Equalities Spokesperson, Lynne Featherstone MP in a speech today to the Equality and Diversity Forum.

The measure, to be put forward as a Liberal Democrat amendment to the forthcoming Single Equalities Bill, would see applicants' names replaced with National Insurance number on job applications.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone, said:

"You may ask what is in a name, but more often than not it can tell you someone's race and gender.

"We need name-blind applications if we want to make absolutely certain this information does not form part of the initial selection.

"A bold revision of equalities law is needed in the new bill to seriously challenge the status quo and pave the way to greater work place equality."