WIREDGOV

Whitehall departments must practise what they preach and carry out their duties under race equality legislation, the FDA said in response to the final report from the Commission for Racial Equality which highlighted government departments’ lack of compliance.

FDA equalities officer Wendy Jones said:

“Whitehall should be leading by example rather than perpetuating the inequalities it claims to be stamping out. The report makes clear that some public sector organisations have done good work to monitor and improve equalities, but many government departments are not among them.

“It is extremely disappointing that Whitehall will not comply with its own laws. We will be watching the legal proceedings by CRE and the Commission for Equality and Human Rights with great interest.”

The FDA has worked with departments and the Cabinet Office to improve their compliance with equalities legislation, but the union has often raised concerns about the lack of monitoring data.

Jones added: “This report should serve as a wake-up call for the Cabinet Office, which should be playing more of a central role to ensure departments are fulfilling their equalities obligations.

“We hope that the CEHR will liaise closely with public sector unions and work together with them to help ensure Whitehall practises what it preaches.”


Notes for Editors

1. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing the UK’s 17,000 senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, diplomats, crown prosecutors and NHS managers.

2. The FDA should be referred to simply as "The FDA". Please do not use First Division Association.

3. For further information contact:
• Jessica Stark, FDA head of communications, tel. 020 7401 5587 or 07967 484 441.