Public Servant Lifestyle

PM-commissioned report calls for public sector organisations to be more transparent about their equality performance as employers.

A major study commissioned by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair is calling for public sector organisations to be more transparent about their equality performance as employers.

"This should involve reporting on overall representation of different groups within the workforce, and also progression to senior posts, retention of staff, and pay," says the report.

"As with examination of public service performance, it will also be crucial to look at the underlying reasons for gaps identified through the reporting process. Public bodies will need to take a close look at the real barriers to women’s progression to senior positions, for example."

Fairness & Freedom

Fairness and Freedom, The Equalities Review's Final Report, warns that despite the significant progress achieved in the UK over the past 60 years, some kinds of inequality are set to remain at intolerable levels, and calls for a new approach to tackling discrimination and disadvantage.

The Phillips' report proposes a ten-step programme to help make Britain a fairer, more equal country at ease with its diversity and ready to face the challenges of the 21st century.

The report warns that unless efforts are drastically stepped up, even the great-great-grandchildren of current legislators will not enjoy the sight of a Parliament with equal numbers of men and women or substantial numbers of ethnic minority MPs. At the current rate, it could take until 2085 to close the pay gap between men and women; until 2045 for Black Caribbean 11-year-olds to close the attainment gap in English and Maths; and on current trends the employment penalty facing disabled people may never be eliminated.

The Chair of the Equalities Review Panel; Trevor Phillips, said: "This report is entirely about one of the - if not the - most cherished aspirations of the British people: to live in a society that is fair and free, and which provides for each individual to realise his or her potential to the fullest. At root, this is what we should mean by an equal society.

Greater Equality

"Today, we report that greater equality would benefit the whole of society. But we also warn that inequality still scars our entire society and holds back too many individuals from realising their potential. If we do not create a new framework to tackle existing, entrenched and emerging inequalities we risk losing the momentum built up by three generations.

"The last few years have seen inequality reduced in many ways. But as the tide of disadvantage recedes, the rocks of persistent inequality have been revealed. People face inequality in many forms - not only on the grounds of race, gender or disability but also sexual orientation, age, gender identity, and religion or belief. They struggle because of outdated attitudes and systemic failures. It will take many years to remove the remaining barriers to equality. In some cases, unless we accelerate progress, it is unlikely that disadvantage will ever be overcome. We have to act now."

The report proposes a new working definition for equality, centred on the freedom people have to flourish, that takes factors beyond income and wealth into account. According to the report's Equality Scorecard, any modern measure of equality needs to take account of important areas such as family and social life, education, safety, quality of life, and freedom of belief and religion. Outcomes in these areas remain unequal for many groups across society.

The Phillips' report recommends ten steps to greater equality, including:

A new framework to measure progress towards equality, including an 'Equalities Scorecard' which employers, public service providers and others can use to get a true picture of equality gaps

A new, simpler but broader positive duty for public sector bodies to tackle inequality - both as service providers and as employers

A simpler legislative framework which will enable groups as well as individuals to take action

New flexibility for employers to use positive action (though the report does not argue for positive discrimination)

A more sophisticated and proportionate enforcement regime, overseen by the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR)

Targeted action on persistent inequalities in the fields of early years and education, employment, health, and crime and criminal justice

Conclusions

These conclusions were based substantial new research and meetings and consultations with hundreds of people across England, Scotland and Wales.

The Review recommends that the CEHR - which will become operational in October 2007 - should report on progress against the ten steps to greater equality within its triennial State of the Nation report.

For more information visit CEHR website: www.cehr.org.uk or downlaod the full Fairness and Freedom report as a 1.30 MB .pdf file.

The Equalities Review Panel is independent from Government, and was asked by the Prime Minister to carry out an investigation into the causes of persistent discrimination and inequality in British society. Focusing on the four key areas of public life in which it found evidence of the most persistent inequalities - early years and education, employment, health, and crime and criminal justice - the Review has carried out detailed analysis of existing and new research in order to assess the extent to which certain individuals/groups are disadvantaged. It examines some of the reasons why this appears to be the case and illustrates the consequences these inequalities are having. The Panel consisted of Trevor Phillips (Chair), Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas and Sir Robert Kerslake.

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