Race Equality Impact Assessments In The Office For National Statistics

EDM number 1088 in 2006-07, proposed by John McDonnell on 08/03/2007.

That this House is concerned by the Office for National Statistics' announcement that it intends to reduce its staffing complement in London by over 1,000 to just 10 posts by 2012, with the likelihood of large numbers of compulsory redundancies; is further concerned that these decisions have been made without any comprehensive consultation with the recognised trade unions, and that the impact on the black and minority ethnic community of these proposals has only been considered with the completion of a revised race equality impact assessment after the decision had been taken; is concerned that, although the previous race equality impact assessment found that there was likely to be a disproportionate impact on black and minority ethnic staff, no meaningful mitigating action has been taken; notes that comments have not been heeded from the previous national statistician, Len Cook, that the Department needed to address equality issues prior to the next Census; calls on the Government to intervene and set up urgent meetings with the relevant trade unions; and urges the Government to ensure that all departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies complete comprehensive race equality impact assessments in consultation with trade unions and service users prior to substantive planning decisions being taken.

This motion has been signed by a total of 38 MPs.