The role of the GEO: embedding equalities across Government
Women and Equalities Committee
Closed
Inquiry
The Committee will examine how the Government Equalities Office (GEO) is delivering on its responsibilities, which are: - improving equality and reducing discrimination and disadvantage for all in the UK; - taking the lead on the Equality Act 2010 and being the lead department on gender, and lesbian, gay, bisexual …
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11
Recommendations
2
Conclusions
1
Report
3
Oral sessions
10
Letters
3
Events
Activity timeline 15 events
2 Dec
2021
2021
19 Nov
2021
2021
24 Sep
2021
2021
Report published
21 Jul
2021
2021
19 Jul
2021
2021
19 Jul
2021
2021
25 May
2021
2021
Oral evidence
13 May
2021
2021
28 Apr
2021
2021
27 Apr
2021
2021
27 Apr
2021
2021
27 Apr
2021
2021
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
21 Jul 2021
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The role of the GEO: embedding equalities across Government
Rt Hon Baroness Nicky Morgan (former Minister for Women and Equalities 2014-16)
Rt Hon Penny Mordant MP, Paymaster General (former Minister for Women and Equalities 2018-19)
25 May 2021
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Marcus Bell · Equality Hub
The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP · Government Equalities Office
14 Apr 2021
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Dr Wanda Wyporska · The Equality Trust
Melanie Field · Equality and Human Rights Commission
Rt Hon Justine Greening · Social Mobility Pledge
Tansy Hutchinson · Equally Ours
The Baroness Falkner of Margravine
Tim Durrant · Institute for Government
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Report - Levelling Up and equality: a new framework for ch… | HC 702 | 24 Sep 2021 | 13 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
13 results
54
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
First Report - Levelling Up and eq…
Since 2019, the Government has referred to an Equality Hub within the Cabinet Office but...
Since 2019, the Government has referred to an Equality Hub within the Cabinet Office but to date the Hub has not published any corporate documents. Its structure remains unclear, and it lacks transparency and accountability. This is unacceptable. The Cabinet …
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Government Response
The government accepts in part, stating that annual staffing and funding information is already published in the Cabinet Office report, and commits to providing further bi-annual information directly to the Committee to support scrutiny.
Government Equalities Office
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55
Conclusion
Accepted
First Report - Levelling Up and eq…
We welcome the Equality Hub’s understanding of our central role in parliamentary scrutiny of its...
We welcome the Equality Hub’s understanding of our central role in parliamentary scrutiny of its administration, policy and expenditure, and that of its constituent units, including the Government Equalities Office, the Disability Unit, the Race Disparity Unit and its latest …
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Government Response
The government accepts the committee's understanding of its scrutiny role and commits to fully engaging with the Committee and maintaining a constructive relationship.
Government Equalities Office
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56
Recommendation
Rejected
First Report - Levelling Up and eq…
We recommend the Government bring forward a revised Standing Order, to make the Women and...
We recommend the Government bring forward a revised Standing Order, to make the Women and Equalities Committee a cross-cutting Select Committee of the House of Commons, appointed to examine cross-government policy on pan-equalities issues, and socio-economic inequality, geographic disparities and …
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Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation, stating that the Women and Equalities Committee’s current Standing Order already provides significant flexibility for its work.
Government Equalities Office
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57
Recommendation
Accepted
First Report - Levelling Up and eq…
It is deeply disappointing and unacceptable that officials and ministers were unwilling to be openly...
It is deeply disappointing and unacceptable that officials and ministers were unwilling to be openly scrutinised in this inquiry, which is at the core of our remit. We hope this inquiry and Report can be a watershed in the Government’s …
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Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation and commits to fully engaging with the Committee and continuing to build a constructive relationship regarding scrutiny of its equality policies.
Government Equalities Office
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58
Conclusion
Accepted
First Report - Levelling Up and eq…
The Government Equalities Office’s move into the coordinating centre of government, in the Cabinet Office,...
The Government Equalities Office’s move into the coordinating centre of government, in the Cabinet Office, and the potential expansion of its coordinating role with the inception of the Equality Hub, is positive but the benefits are yet to be fully …
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Government Response
The government response outlines current achievements and the established structure of the Equality Hub, highlighting its work, including G7 presidency efforts, but does not commit to new actions to address the committee's concerns about fragmentation or the lack of a published cross-departmental equalities strategy.
Government Equalities Office
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59
Recommendation
Rejected
First Report - Levelling Up and eq…
We welcome the Government’s intention to focus more on socio-economic and geographic inequality and look...
We welcome the Government’s intention to focus more on socio-economic and geographic inequality and look forward to the publication of its Levelling Up White Paper. While enactment of the socio-economic duty, section 1 of the Equality Act, is unlikely to …
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Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation for a pilot on the voluntary adoption of the socio-economic duty, stating it is not necessary at this time and that they first want to evaluate existing voluntary adoptions in devolved public bodies and some English local authorities.
Government Equalities Office
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60
Recommendation
Rejected
First Report - Levelling Up and eq…
Given some of the Minister for Women and Equalities’ comments in her “new fight for...
Given some of the Minister for Women and Equalities’ comments in her “new fight for fairness” speech about not focusing on groups, we are concerned about a risk of going backwards on important, long-established equality issues for groups of people …
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Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation to publish a cross-departmental pan-equalities strategy and annual Action Plans, stating the Equality Hub's objectives are already integrated into the Cabinet Office's Outcome Delivery Plan and existing strategies.
Government Equalities Office
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61
Recommendation
Rejected
First Report - Levelling Up and eq…
In 2018, our predecessor Committee found that allocation of the Minister for Women and Equalities...
In 2018, our predecessor Committee found that allocation of the Minister for Women and Equalities role as an additional responsibility of a Cabinet Minister was sub-optimal. The role was susceptible to Cabinet reshuffles and its allocation seemed like an afterthought. …
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Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation to create a full-time Cabinet-level Secretary of State for Equalities and Levelling Up, stating that ministerial portfolios are the Prime Minister's prerogative.
Government Equalities Office
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62
Recommendation
Rejected
First Report - Levelling Up and eq…
We note both the current absence of a cross-departmental equalities strategy and strong coordinating machinery...
We note both the current absence of a cross-departmental equalities strategy and strong coordinating machinery to drive it forward. We therefore recommend the Government establish a dedicated Cabinet Committee for Equalities and Levelling Up, to add further drive to both …
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Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation, stating that the portfolios of Ministers and Cabinet Committees are the prerogative of the Prime Minister.
Government Equalities Office
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63
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
First Report - Levelling Up and eq…
Our Reports on Covid-19 have demonstrated that the pandemic has had unequal effects on some...
Our Reports on Covid-19 have demonstrated that the pandemic has had unequal effects on some groups, including women, disabled people and some Black and minority ethnic groups, and exacerbated existing inequalities. The equalities machinery within government has not been sufficient …
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Government Response
The government accepts in part, agreeing the Equality Hub should lead on PSED, noting the public inquiry's terms are pending, and confirming the Equality Hub's ongoing involvement in reviewing disproportionate impacts in the National Risk Register.
Government Equalities Office
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64
Recommendation
Rejected
First Report - Levelling Up and eq…
International conventions, including the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against...
International conventions, including the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination …
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Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation, asserting that the Equality Hub already works effectively and collaboratively with other departments to meet international equality commitments and provide timely reporting, arguing that the current multi-departmental approach allows for specialized policy expertise.
Government Equalities Office
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65
Recommendation
Accepted
First Report - Levelling Up and eq…
Equality for different groups can raise difficult, balanced rights issues, for example race or religion...
Equality for different groups can raise difficult, balanced rights issues, for example race or religion and belief can sometimes conflict with equal rights on the grounds of sex or sexual orientation. There are lessons to be learned from recent delicately …
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Government Response
The government states that the Equality Hub and EHRC already regularly engage a wide range of stakeholders on complex equality issues, including balanced rights, and therefore sees no need for additional or new activity as recommended.
Government Equalities Office
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66
Recommendation
Rejected
First Report - Levelling Up and eq…
The Equality Hub should conduct a review of the Government’s communications on, and management of,...
The Equality Hub should conduct a review of the Government’s communications on, and management of, sensitive and balanced rights issues, drawing in particular on lessons learned from the Gender Recognition Act reform process since 2018 and the Government’s approach to …
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Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation for the Equality Hub to conduct a review of communications on sensitive rights issues, stating the Hub already engages regularly with stakeholders and refers to the EHRC's existing considerations.
Government Equalities Office
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Correspondence 10 letters
19 Nov 2021
Correspondence to the Chair from the Minister for Levelling Up Communities and Equalities relating to the Government Equalities Office finances
Parliament page
19 Jul 2021
Correspondence from the Chair to Rt Hon Baroness Morgan of Cotes relating to the Committee’s inquiry into Reform of the GEO
Parliament page
19 Jul 2021
Correspondence from the Chair to Rt Hon Theresa May relating to the Committee’s inquiry into Reform of the GEO
Parliament page
13 May 2021
Correspondence from the Minister for Women and Equalities to the Chair in relation to the Relationship between the Women and Equalities Committee and the Government Equalities Office
Parliament page
28 Apr 2021
Correspondence from the Chair to Minister for Women and Equalities relating to the Relationship between the Women and Equalities Committee and the Government Equalities Office
Parliament page
27 Apr 2021
Correspondence from the Chair to the Minister for Equalities in lieu of oral evidence to the GEO inquiry scheduled for 25 May
Parliament page
27 Apr 2021
Correspondence from the Chair to Marcus Bell, Director of the Equality Hub, relating to relating to the Committee’s inquiry into The role of the GEO: embedding equalities across Government
Parliament page
27 Apr 2021
Correspondence from the Chair to the Minister for Women in lieu of oral evidence scheduled for 25 May
Parliament page
23 Apr 2021
Correspondence from the Social Mobility Commission to the Committee relating to our inquiry into The role of the GEO: embedding equalities across Government
Parliament page
23 Mar 2021
From committee
Letter to the Chair from the Interim Co-Chair’s of the Social Mobility Commission relating to its move to the move to the Equality Hub
Parliament page