Separate Silos Race and the reform agenda

Article

The first in a series of papers looking at the issue of race and governance, focussing here on how Whitehall is carrying on two sets of policy reform.

This paper shows that the government's flagship public service reform agenda, and policy making on race equality, have operated in separate silos. In relations to race, policy makes are still focussing on process, not outcomes, and are constrained by a paucity of data in key areas like health and housing.

If public services are to meet the needs of all citizens, equality must now be central to each policy-maker's agenda.

The innovative new legal requirement on Departments to produce Race Equality Schemes must be used to identify and deliver outcomes, not be marginalised as a tick-box charter.

The potential impact of all new policies on equality and on community relations must be assessed and actual impact monitored to ensure that they deliver tangible gains and avoid unintended consequences.

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