HUNTINGDONSHIRE businesses have condemned Government plans to introduce strict racial quotas for companies that wish to compete for public contracts. Under new Government proposals, companies would need to show that they employ sufficient numbers of black

HUNTINGDONSHIRE businesses have condemned Government plans to introduce strict racial quotas for companies that wish to compete for public contracts.

Under new Government proposals, companies would need to show that they employ sufficient numbers of black and Asian employees before they could be considered for public contracts.

John Bridge OBE, chief executive of the Huntingdonshire Chamber of Commerce, disagreed with the Government's claim that initiatives such as this will address high unemployment levels. The move follows the release of figures showing that people from ethnic minorities are twice as likely to be unemployed as the white majority.

"High unemployment levels will not be resolved by forcing businesses to hire workers from a specified minority group," he said. "The focus must instead be switched back to providing prospective employees with the skills they need to complete the job effectively.

"The introduction of positive vetting will simply increase the level of regulatory burden suffered by businesses, of which a third is already said to be employment related.