12 Not Addressed

The Department’s current flagship programmes are aimed at youth unemployment, and the long term unemployed.

Conclusion
The Department’s current flagship programmes are aimed at youth unemployment, and the long term unemployed. There are relatively few schemes targeted at people from an ethnic minority background.29 The Department did tell us about its 20 challenge areas, which are 20 areas within England, Scotland and Wales with a high ethnic minority population and a high gap between the ethnic minority and white employment rate.30 The Department said that these areas are subject to “targeted action”, which can include working with jobcentres to make sure they are properly equipped, and working with employers to make sure that they understand the opportunities to bring people in from different communities to address issues around unconscious bias.31 We also heard about how the Department participates in local initiatives to improve employment outcomes for ethnic minorities.32 Following the session, the Department wrote to us saying where the 20 local authority areas were, and giving further details on some of the activities in those areas.33 Being transparent about performance
Government Response Summary
The government's response did not address the committee's conclusion about the lack of targeted employment schemes for ethnic minority backgrounds or the specific actions in the 20 challenge areas, instead providing a response related to general diversity data collection.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government Not Addressed
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 3.2 The department has made a change to the way it collects diversity data as part of a Universal Credit claim, to encourage claimants to provide this information as stated at the Committee hearing on the 9 September 2021. The declaration rate is increasing and is now above 70% based on the department’s internal management information. However, the department cannot and should not compel people to provide this information should they not wish to do so. 3.3 The department will ensure that its evaluation considers diversity characteristics. When the department carries out research with programme participants, and non-participants, it will collect information on ethnicity and disability.
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age 4.9 yrs
Report published 08 Sep 2021