The end of Equality Impact Assessments?

Is this the end of Equality Impact Assessments? In a speech to a CBI conference, David Cameron said ‘we are calling time on Equality Impact Assessments’. He said ‘You no longer have to do them if these issues have been properly considered...we don’t need all this extra tick-box stuff’.

A number of organisations have strongly criticized the Prime Minister’s comments. including Disability Rights UK, Equality South West, Fawcett Society, NUS and TUC.

It’s true that some organisations carry out equality impact assessments (EIAs) in a bureaucratic, ‘tick-box’ manner. But a meaningful and effective approach to EIA helps enable organisations to embed E&D throughout the organisation.

If you are considering ‘abandoning’ EIAs, you might want to reflect on Ofsted’s thematic report on How Colleges Improve (published in Sept 12). This report makes clear that an embedded approach to E&D is a common feature of outstanding colleges; in contrast, colleges who are not good or outstanding often have E&D as a ‘bolt on extra’.

You might also want to reflect on guidance by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which makes clear that carrying out EIAs are a way for public sector organisations to demonstrate they are giving ‘due regard’ to their Public Sector Equality Duty.

So perhaps the answer is not to throw the baby out with the bath water by ceasing to carry out EIAs. Instead, to make sure that EIAs are carried out in your organisation in a simple, consistent, effective and meaningful manner.

Click here for link to speech (as written) on the Prime Minister’s website

Click here for report on the BBC website

Click here for Disability Rights UK response

Click here for Equality South West response

Click here for Fawcett Society response

Click here for NUS response

Click here for TUC response

Click here for response by Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities