The Equality and Human Rights Commission today revealed the action it has taken to ensure the government meets its legal obligations to consider the effect of budget cuts on vulnerable groups.
The aim of the Commission is to ensure that decision-makers come to their judgements based on the best information available, and that these decisions are in line with the coalition government’s own statements that such decisions should be evidence-based, fair and transparent.
Neil Kinghan, Director General of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:
“Under equality legislation, the Treasury, like all public bodies, has a legal duty to pay ‘due regard’ to equality and consider any disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups when making decisions, including decisions about the budget. This legislation is not designed to prevent reductions in public expenditure. Its role, and the Commission’s role, is to ensure fairness is at the heart of decisions.
“When the Spending Review was announced in June, the Commission wrote to government departments, including the Treasury, asking for reassurance that they would comply with the legislation and issuing guidance to help them to do this. We have pressed the point in person with a number of Cabinet Ministers, including the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
“It is for the Treasury to demonstrate that it has complied with the legislation and assessed the impact of its decisions on vulnerable groups. If it cannot do so, then the Commission will have to consider appropriate enforcement action.”
