Equality and Human Rights Commission

A landmark report released today by the Equality and Human Rights Commission brings together for the first time all available information to answer the question, 'How Fair is Britain?' The data in the report also offers a groundbreaking opportunity to look at 'How Fair is Wales?'

The report concludes that over the past generation we've seen huge steps in tackling discrimination and changing attitudes across Britain. Opinion polls show that Britain is a country with the ambition to be a fair society.

Yet despite this significant progress, our ambitions still exceed our achievements. Persistent problems remain and there are new 21st century challenges with gaps opening up between those who have the opportunity to succeed and those who don’t.

The first in a series of reports that will be presented to Parliament every three years, ‘How Fair is Britain?’ provides the independent evidence to measure progress towards social justice and equality.  And it identifies five critical areas of life where people fare very differently according to their background. These are: health and well-being, learning, work, security and autonomy.

In the current economic climate the evidence set out in the report will be vital in assisting decision-makers to judge whether their policies would increase or decrease fairness.

For the first time anywhere in the world, rather than just focusing on economic inequalities, the Review analyses all available data covering the areas necessary for people to live a happy, productive and fulfilled life.

It identifies emerging challenges such as the effect of poverty on educational achievements; the increased reporting of hate crime which is not reflected in conviction rates; and the growing numbers of people over 50 struggling to balance the demands of employment and caring for children and older relatives. Alongside these it assesses progress on tackling persistent problems such as the gender pay gap and segregation in employment.

The Review also highlights significant gaps in knowledge and data about particular groups - for example, transgender people. These data gaps mean it is difficult to tell whether our aims of equality and fairness are being translated into practical change for the better in people's lives.

Ann Beynon, Commissioner for Wales said:

“For the first time using this report we can answer the question: 'How Fair is Britain?' from a truly rounded perspective rather than focussing on individual indicators such as economic inequality.

“The challenge we face in Wales, and across Britain, is that the gates of opportunity are still closed to many people who remain unable to realise their potential and contribute fully to society. Demographic change, social trends and technology have the potential to make things better or worse depending on our ability to harness them properly.

“At a time when the country is examining how it spends its resources, this Review provides the independent evidence for decision makers to target concerted action on the areas which count, rather than those which have the loudest supporters.  We hope our new report will ensure everyone is clear how to make Wales fairer for all. It will help those making public spending decisions and those planning essential services such as health and social care.”

The Review identifies five critical areas of life that require action if damaging gaps are to be closed. These - together with illustrative data are:

1. Health and well-being

Goal: to eliminate the effect of social background, race and geography on health and life expectancy

• In Wales 21% of men and 23% of women reported their health as 'poor'. There is a sharp increase for older women in Wales.
• Men and women from the highest social class can expect to live up to seven years longer, on average, than those from the lowest social class.
• Pakistani and Black Caribbean babies are twice as likely to die in their first year as are White British or Bangladeshi babies.
• Average life expectancy in Wales is one year lower than in England and two years higher than Scotland.

2. Learning

Goal: to ensure that every individual has the chance to learn and realise their talents to the full

• The Welsh Assembly Government has set an expected level of achievement for pupils age 16 in English/Welsh, Maths and Science. Forty-four per cent of all children reach this level but only 31% of Black children do whilst 68% of Chinese children do.
• In Wales 47% of pupils achieve 5 A* - C grades at GCSE. 51% of girls and 43% of boys achieve this standard.
• At age five, 35% of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals achieved a good level of development, compared to 55% of pupils not eligible for free school meals.
• In Wales 25% of adults lack functional literacy compared to 16% of adults in England.

3. Work

Goal: to give every person the opportunity to play a part in strengthening the economy

• The difference in average hourly wage for women and men working full-time in Wales is 9% and for part-time women the gap increases to 31%.
• By the age of 22-24, 44% of Black people in Britain are not in education, employment or training, compared to fewer than 25% of White people.
• In Wales 77% of non-disabled adults are in employment but only 40% of disabled adults are. Disabled people are significantly less likely to be in employment in Wales than elsewhere.
• Disabled women across Britain earn 31% less than non-disabled women.

4. Safety and Security

Goal: to put an end to identity-based violence and harassment

• Ethnic minorities in England and Wales are five times as likely to be imprisoned as White people. There is now greater disproportionality in the number of Black people in prisons in Britain than in the USA.
• Two-thirds of lesbian, gay and transgender secondary students report that they have been victims of severe bullying. Seventeen per cent of those bullied reported having received death threats.
• Domestic violence is associated with a higher rate of repeat-victimisation than any other kind of violent or acquisitive crime: in 2009/10, 76 % of all incidents of domestic violence in England and Wales were repeat offences.
• The number of women prisoners has nearly doubled since 1995 in England and Wales.

5. Autonomy

Goal: to give more people greater personal autonomy and civic power

• Of the 10 British local authorities with the highest percentage of adult carers 7 are in Wales.
• Women make up 48% of Members of the Welsh Assembly. This is significantly higher than the House of Commons (22%) and Scottish Parliament (35%).
• Only 25% of local councillors in Wales are women.

More information about the Review will be available at www.equalityhumanrights.com/howfairisbritain

Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Commission is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006, which took over the responsibilities of Commission for Racial Equality, Disability Rights Commission and Equal Opportunities Commission.  It is the independent advocate for equality and human rights in Britain.  It aims to reduce inequality, eliminate discrimination, strengthen good relations between people, and promote and protect human rights.  The Commission enforces equality legislation on age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender status, and encourages compliance with the Human Rights Act.  It also gives advice and guidance to businesses, the voluntary and public sectors, and to individuals.