Government departments and other public authorities are now able to
access a user-friendly website developed by the Commission for Racial
Equality (CRE) that will enable policy-makers to put race equality
firmly at the centre of the decision-making process.

The 'Race Equality Impact Assessment: A step-by-step guide' website
provides user-friendly guidance and practical case studies.
Policy-makers will find it easier to meet their legal duty to promote
race equality.

Speaking at the launch of the new website, Trevor Phillips, Chair of the
CRE said:

Policies don't affect everyone in the same way.  In the past the needs
of different racial groups were not always addressed and inequalities
were created.  Race equality should be taken into account whenever a new
law or change to existing policy takes place.  Although this is a
statutory duty for public bodies, it can be hit or miss whether it
actually happens.

No-one doubts central government's commitment to promote race equality
but the statistics show it's not working.  To our knowledge, up to half
of all government departments had not carried out any formal race
equality impact assessments either during 2002/03 or 2003/04.  Ninety
percent of those conducted were carried out by just three departments.

One of our roles is to provide information and practical advice for
public and private sector bodies but we have sometimes been criticised
for not making that information user-friendly.  We've listened to those
concerns and I believe the CRE-designed website will give policy-makers
a useful and useable tool to help them get it right when developing
major policy initiatives.  Indeed, there should be no excuse now for
either government departments or public authorities not to meet their
legal duty.

Speaking at the launch, Minister for Race, Community Policy and Civil
Renewal, Fiona Mactaggart, said:

Race Equality Impact Assessments (REIA) have led to better, fairer
policies which improve public confidence and respond to public need.
Since their introduction under the Race Relations Act, the success
stories for REIAs have included the DWP amending its policy on Direct
Pensions Payments to meet the needs of customers whose culture prohibits
use of mainstream bank accounts and the DCMS which adjusted its focus
from simply increasing administration to museums to one of broadening
access.

These examples demonstrate the potential of REIAs. The on-line guidance
being launched today is designed to make the process more user-friendly
and therefore much simpler for public servants, both to comply with
legal requirements and ensure better public services.  It is a further
step towards increasing both the number and quality of REIAs carried out
by public bodies.

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The website has been developed in response to requests for further
guidance by public authorities and is a joint project between the CRE
and the Race Equality Unit (REU) of the Home Office.  The toolkit and
guidance applies to both government departments and also other public
authorities covered by the race equality duty.

In 2002, a survey for the CRE showed that 54% of public bodies had set
in place arrangements for 'assessing and consulting on proposed
policies'.
Few reported implementing those arrangements.