Politics: The House: `Race bias' rebuke for Fabricant

THE BEST way to get people from ethnic minorities into jobs is to teach them the importance of work, a Tory MP told the House of Commons. Michael Fabricant, member for Lichfield, asked the employment minister Alan Howarth: "May I ask you to confirm that the way to improve job opportunities for black people and other ethnic minorities is by inducing on them the work ethic and also by improving their job and training opportunities - and not by introducing a quota system for employers."

The question drew gasps from Labour MPs and a rebuke from Mr Howarth, a former Conservative. "We on this side of the House find racial discrimination abhorrent," he said.