The role of the GEO: embedding equalities across Government

Women and Equalities Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 13 Jan 2021 Closed: 12 Dec 2022 Parliament page
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 … Read more
7 Recommendations
6 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
10 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 18 events
2 Dec
2021
Report published
19 Nov
2021
Correspondence
24 Sep
2021
Report published
21 Jul
2021
Oral evidence
21 Jul
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
19 Jul
2021
Correspondence
19 Jul
2021
Correspondence
25 May
2021
Oral evidence
25 May
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
13 May
2021
Correspondence
28 Apr
2021
Correspondence
27 Apr
2021
Correspondence
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
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 Conclusion
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 … Read more
Government Response
Accept in part. The Equality Hub currently publishes annual information on staffing and funding as part of the Cabinet Office annual report. The Equality Hub will continue to comply with … Read more
Government Equalities Office
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55 Conclusion
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 … Read more
Government Equalities Office
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56 Recommendation
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 … Read more
Government Equalities Office
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57 Conclusion
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 … Read more
Government Response
Accept. The Government commits to engaging fully with the Committee and continuing to build a constructive relationship.
Government Equalities Office
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58 Conclusion
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 … Read more
Government Equalities Office
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59 Recommendation
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 … Read more
Government Equalities Office
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60 Recommendation
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 … Read more
Government Equalities Office
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61 Recommendation
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. … Read more
Government Equalities Office
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62 Conclusion
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 … Read more
Government Response
Reject. The portfolios of Ministers and Cabinet Committees are the prerogative of the Prime Minister.
Government Equalities Office
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63 Recommendation
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 … Read more
Government Equalities Office
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64 Recommendation
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 … Read more
Government Equalities Office
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65 Recommendation
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 … Read more
Government Equalities Office
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66 Conclusion
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 … Read more
Government Response
Reject. The Equality Hub interacts regularly with a wide range of stakeholders across equality issues, ensuring that it factors in all relevant views to its work. ... Reject. The EHRC … Read more
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
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19 Jul 2021 Correspondence from the Chair to Rt Hon Theresa May relating to the Committee’s inquiry into Reform of the GEO
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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
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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
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27 Apr 2021 Correspondence from the Chair to the Minister for Women in lieu of oral evidence scheduled for 25 May
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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
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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
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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
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