opportunities to women. It believes that the current restrictions on the employment of women in underground mining, rather than being protective, are outdated and discriminatory and act as a disincentive to employment opportunities. There is no question of reducing meaningful protection. Indeed, the Government is concerned to ensure that restrictions continue in force where it is satisfied that there are good health and safety reasons for their retention. CCPR/C/58/Add.6 page 10 Positive measures to preserve religious Qf cultural identity 46. In general, different communities are able to preserve and practise their own cultures and religions and the Government sees no need for any direct intervention. There are, however, certain practices, e.g. polygamy, ritual scarring or certain forms of punishment which it is not thought possible to accommodate within the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland - political anH religious discrimination and discrimination in employment 47. The Government places a high priority on removing obstacles to equality of opportunity and any manifestations of religious or political discrimination in Northern Ireland society. Such discrimination by central and local government statutory bodies has been unlawful in Northern Ireland since the enactment of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973. The Act also provided that any legislation by a devolved Assembly, or any subordinate legislation by the United Kingdom Parliament applying solely to Northern Ireland, should not discriminate on such grounds, and that such legislation would be void to the extent that it discriminated in this way. In addition, the Act set up an independent Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights to advise on the adequacy and effectiveness of the law in preventing discrimination, and to recommend such changes as were necessary. In practice, the Commission has considered the whole range of human rights issues in Northern Ireland, including emergency legislation and related topics such as police powers and 
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the government's stance on equality and non-discrimination in various aspects of life, including employment, culture, and human rights. It also touches on the need to remove obstacles to equality of opportunity and the importance of protecting religious and cultural identity. The text does not explicitly mention economic development, natural resources, agriculture, forestry, fishing, transport, communication, international trade, health, or humanitarian aid.

**Category**
Employment, Culture