Equality and Human Rights Commission

Using its unique powers, the Commission conducted a section 31 Assessment of the extent to which HM Treasury met its legal obligations to consider the impact of Spending Review decisions on protected groups.

Making fair financial decisions

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Research conducted by the Commission, IDeA, LGA and the SOPO to get a better understanding how local authorities procure services, works and goods, throughout the different stages of the procurement process.

Publishing equality information: Commitment, engagement and transparency

This report sets out how listed public authorities have performed on the specific duty to publish equality information. It reports on the findings of an assessment of over 1100 authorities undertaken by the Commission between February and April 2012. It includes information about performance across a range of sectors, it sets out what good practice looks like, and it includes recommendations for public authorities to help them to improve their performance.

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Research on the specific duties, recommendations for the equality duty. Equality and Human Rights Commission 2009.

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The Equality and Diversity Forum commissioned the research in this report to explore what lessons can be learnt from the implementation of the previous Race Equality Duty and to consider how public authorities can most effectively use the new public sector Equality Duty to address the needs of refugee and migrant communities. The report contains recommendations and practical suggestions to help public bodies to develop an inclusive equality strategy: tackling discrimination, advancing equality and good relations for all members of the community, including those who originally came to the UK from abroad.

The Commission has launched a first of its kind report looking at the action taken by schools in England and Wales under the race, disability and gender equality duties, which were superseded on 5 April this year by the new Public Sector Equality Duty. The research which was carried out by Ipsos MORI, contains evidence from schools about the impact that the equality duties have had on improving pupil outcomes.

Schools report that the duties are creating more positive outcomes for pupils including better access to facilities, feeling valued, developing higher aspirations, narrowing gaps in performance and participation in sports. However the Commission believes that all schools now need to take a systematic approach to using evidence to tackle entrenched inequalities in education. The report is accompanied by in-depth case studies and a paper which makes recommendations for key organisations in the new policy landscape in education.

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Research report:

The equality duties and schools - PDF version

The equality duties and schools - Word version

Policy paper:

The equality duties and schools: Lessons for the future - PDF version

The equality duties and schools: Lessons for the future - Word version

Case studies - Examples of implementing the equality duties to improve pupil outcomes:

The equality duties and schools: Twelve case studies - PDF version

The equality duties and schools: Twelve case studies - Word version

The aim of this guide is to help public authorities subject to the equality duty, and those thinking about or currently monitoring gender identity, to do so using an acceptable and methodologically robust approach.

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Collecting information on gender identity - PDF version

Collecting information on gender identity - Word version

See also: Monitoring equality - Developing a gender identity question (Research report 75)

Moving towards effective equality outcomes

This research report examines performance on the former race, disability and gender equality duties by Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts in England. These duties were replaced by the new public sector equality duty in April 2011.

The research found that although progress was made on delivering the race, disability and gender equality duties, significant work still needs to be done by health bodies to ensure that their efforts lead to identifiable changes to health outcomes for different groups.

The report is accompanied by a policy paper with recommendations as to how health bodies can meet their obligations under the new equality duty.

Effective implementation of the new duty can assist healthcare providers in reducing health inequalities, creating a more effective workforce, and improving the life chances and wellbeing of millions of people in the UK.

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Research report

The performance of the health sector in meeting the Public Sector Equality Duties - PDF version

The performance of the health sector in meeting the Public Sector Equality Duties - Word version

Policy paper

A way forward for the health sector - PDF version

A way forward for the health sector - Word version

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This guidance highlights just a handful of the hundreds of success stories where the public sector has used that particular duty to involve disabled people and improved outcomes and results. Many have utilised the framework of either a Disability Equality Scheme or a more general Equality Scheme.

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This report assesses the performance of a selection of public bodies in meeting their public sector duties as they apply to trans people . It also captures and shares good practice examples of public bodies who have taken action to meet their duties and achieve real improvements in trans equality. The report was commissioned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (the Commission) and carried out by Equality Network: Scottish Transgender Alliance. More information >>

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This study looked at the role of LSPs and LAAs in promoting equality with the aim of highlighting good equalities practice especially in relation to specific dimensions of equality: leadership; communications and messaging; data collection, disaggregation and analysis; compliance with legal equalities duties (for example, through equality impact assessments, differentiated action plans and targets); involvement; diversity in representation, and improved equality outcomes.

The following research reports were undertaken by the legacy equality commissions and other bodies into the progress made on the duties by public authorities.

Practical Implementation of the Disability Equality Duty within Local Authorities (Word)
This report presents findings from a survey of disability equality leads in England, Scotland and Wales
OPM on behalf of the Disability Rights Commission, January 2006

The impact of the race equality duty on council services (PDF)
Survey, good practice examples and reviewed documentation from all 32 councils in Scotland
Audit Scotland, November 2008

Capturing the value of the disability equality duty (Word)
Key findings on the duty five months after it came into force
OPM for the Disability Rights Commission, May 2007

Involvement for real equality (Word)
This report identified how efficiency gains could be made by involving disabled people.
OPM for the Disability Rights Commission, September 2007

Towards race equality (PDF)
An evaluation of the public duty to promote race equality and good race relations in England and Wales
Schneider Ross for the Commission for Racial Equality 2002

Towards race equality in Scotland (PDF)
Summary of evaluation of the public duty to promote race equality and good race relations in Scotland

Involvement for real equality (Word)
This report identified how efficiency gains could be made by involving disabled people.
OPM for the Disability Rights Commission, September 07

Fair for All project report (PDF)
Overview report of gender equality schemes prepared by NHS Boards in Scotland
Fair for All, March 08

Public Sector Approaches to Race Equality

This report presents the results of a qualitative research study to establish the views and experiences of black minority and ethnic groups with regards to public services. Carried out by MORI on behalf of the Audit Commission (2003)

Equality Duties

This report assesses the cost and cost effectiveness of the previous specific Race, Disability and Gender equality duties. Carried out by Schneider Ross on behalf of the Government Equality Office (2009).

Equality Duty Support Package for the Voluntary Sector

This online tool kit has been published by Equality and Diversity Forum to help the Voluntary Sector to have a greater impact on the way that public bodies meet their responsibilities under the Public Sector Equality Duty.