Government announces audit of racial disparities in public services

On 27 August 2016 Theresa May launched an audit of public services to look into racial disparities in public service outcomes. Departments will need to identify and publish information showing how outcomes differ for people of different backgrounds in a range of areas including health, education, and employment. The information will allow the public to check how their race affects how they are treated in these areas and will influence government policy to solve these issues.

The audit will be led by a new dedicated Whitehall unit which reports jointly to the Secretary of State of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid and the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Ben Gummer. The first data is expected to be published before summer 2017 and will be updated annually.

The announcement of the audit follows the publication of a review into race equality by the Equality and Human Rights Commission which reveals that black workers with degrees are paid 23.1% less than white workers with degrees and ethnic minorities are hugely underrepresented in positions of power (see Legal update, Employment news round-up for week to 25 August 2016: EHRC review into race equality).

The government is also conducting a review into increasing the progression in the labour market by people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds. A call for evidence to establish obstacles faced by people from BME communities in the labour market was launched on 10 May 2016 and closed on 22 August 2016 (see Legal update, Review into increasing progression in the labour market for BME workers: call for evidence). The government response is awaited.

Source: Prime Minister's Office: Prime Minister orders government audit to tackle racial disparities in public service outcomes (27 August 2016).