Hi Gary do you think sending them Equality and Diversity Strategies/SES
that draw together actions relating to the PSED would help? I am also
happy to submit guidance and IA toolkit.
Regards
Anne
Anne
Anne Mwangi
Equality and Diversity Advisor
University of Hull
Cottingham Road
Hull HU6 7RX
telephone 01482 466333
Internal Ext 6333
-----Original Message-----
From: HEEON equal opportunities list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Gary Loke
Sent: 14 March 2013 16:31
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Call for evidence announced for the Equality Duty Review -
Closing date 12 April
Dear colleagues,
The Government has announced a call for evidence for the review of the
Public Sector Equality Duty
(https://www.gov.uk/government/policy-advisory-groups/123). The review
is particularly focusing on the following key themes:
* how well understood is the PSED and guidance
* what are the costs and benefits of the PSED
* how organisations are managing legal risk and ensuring
compliance with the PSED
* what changes, if any, would ensure better equality outcomes
(legislative, administrative and/or enforcement changes, for example).
The PSED review team is particularly interested in looking at equalities
paperwork and policies related to PSED (particularly in relation to
public sector procurement processes) and the collection, retention and
use of diversity data by public bodies, for example, in relation to
goods, facilities and services.
The consultation period is short (see below). In the circumstances,
ECU, in discussion with the steering committee of the Higher Education
Equal Opportunities Network (HEEON) and the chair of the Higher
Education Race Action Group (HERAG) will be submitting a response based
on the following core messages:
1. where operated well, evidence shows that the PSED has provided a
impetus for step-change to address inequality in education generally and
more specifically in higher education.
2. more time is needed to embed operations; the PSED duty has only
been place for 2 years (although there were previous duties for race,
gender and disability) so this review is too early as HEIs are still
embedding practice to meet the current requirements.
3. while legislation is not the only mechanism to enact change, it
is one core mechanism; the PSED has been effective in providing goal
posts for public bodies to progress towards a fairer society
4. to change legislation at this stage is counter-productive as
institutions spent resources in developing mechanisms and work to
implement the PSED duty; major changes will create uncertainty and
further work for higher education institutions
5. because there are different specific duties for England,
Scotland and Wales, consideration is required that the operation and
impact of the duty is different in each country
We hope that colleagues agree with these messages. If you have concerns
about these, please do let us know.
We are also encouraging HEIs to submit evidence to this review, and we
understand that the review team would welcome submissions from
institutions in England, Scotland and Wales. The PSED review team are
seeking evidence that relate to the key themes above and must be
submitted by Friday 12 April 2013 to [log in to unmask]
for it to be considered. As part of the evidence, the team is also
seeking examples of documentation relating to the PSED, for example
equality impact assessments, procurement forms, diversity data forms,
guidance and toolkits.
With best wishes,
Gary
Gary Loke
Head of Policy
T: 020 7438 1024
M: 0754 000 0166
E: [log in to unmask]
Equality Challenge Unit
7th floor, Queens House
55/56 Lincoln's Inn Fields
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<http://www.twitter.com/EqualityinHE>
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