REDP: Reform of the Equality and Human Rights Commission: a consultation

Regional Equality & Diversity Partnership

Reform of the Equality and Human Rights Commission: a consultation

Date: 16/6/2011
Summary: The Government Equalities Office published detailed plans for major changes to the way the EHRC operates. The reforms aims to correct mistakes of the past and increase transparency, accountability and value for money.

Ministers plan to make changes in three key areas:

1) Clarifying the EHRC’s remit. The government will amend the legislation that established the EHRC, the Equality Act 2006, to clarify the Commission’s core functions. This will allow the EHRC to focus on the work that really matters, where it alone can add value. At present, vagueness in the Equality Act, for example, the duty to “promote understanding of the importance of equality and diversity” has led to the EHRC undertaking a wide range of activities that are not regulatory in nature, including running summer camps for young people.

2) Stopping non-core activities. One of the causes of the Commission’s difficulties was the breadth of its remit – extending beyond its core role to, for example, operating a helpline and grants programme. The Commission has struggled to do these things well , so we have decided that we should not fund it to do them in the future. The evidence suggests that this work could be done better or more cost-effectively by others.

3) Improving transparency and value for money. Problems with financial controls mean that each set of the EHRC’s accounts have been qualified since its creation, and it has struggled to deliver value for money. The Government’s proposals include a legal requirement for the EHRC to publish an annual business plan in Parliament, and comply with the same rules as all other public bodies when spending money. Where the Commission fails to show that it has spent taxpayers’ money wisely, financial penalties will apply.

The consultation on this ran from 22nd March 2011 – 15th June 2011

This is our response EHRC_Reform_Consultation_Response.doc

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