25 Nov 2002
How would a single body dealing with equality issues affect Scotland? This was one of the questions addressed today by Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell, at a conference looking at the Government’s consultation on a possible single Equality Body.
Speaking at an event in Edinburgh, Mrs Liddell also highlighted the Government’s commitment to equal opportunities and urged the business community to get involved in the consultation process.
Helen Liddell said:
"This Government is committed to equal opportunities. We have set up the Disability Rights Commission, agreed the Article 13 Directive, outlawing discrimination in employment on the grounds of sexual orientation, religion and age, and passed legislation including the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act, which allows political parties to take positive measures in favour of women when selecting candidates.
"We want to know whether a single equality body – taking forward the work of the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality, and the Disability Rights Commission, and work in other equality strands – would be the best way forward for Britain’s statutory equality machinery.
"If there is to be a single equality body it must meet Scotland’s needs. Any new structure must have an office in Scotland and engage fully with the Scotland Office, Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament. It must ensure that Scotland’s voice is heard in debates about reserved matters, including key areas such as employment rights.
"Engaging business in equal opportunities is a major issue, and many employers recognise that opportunity for all and fostering talent is good business sense, as well as common sense. We want employers – and all Scots with an interest in this issue – to give us their views on the proposals."
NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS
1. The Secretary of State was speaking at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The conference was organised by the Centre for Scottish Public Policy in association with the Scottish Equalities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission, the Equality Network and Age Concern Scotland.
2. Copies of the Government’s consultation paper "Equality and Diversity: Making it happen" can be obtained by phoning 0870 1502 500 and quoting reference 02/1353. The document is available in a wide variety of formats. The consultation exercise closes on 21 February 2003.
3. The current statutory equality bodies are the Equality Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Disability Rights Commission.
4. The Government is introducing legislation which, from December 2003, will prohibit discrimination in employment on the grounds of sexual orientation and religion. From 2006, there will also be legislation prohibiting discrimination in employment on the grounds of age. Any new equality structures will have to take account of the new equality strands of sexual orientation, religion and age.
4. Any new equality structures are unlikely to be in place before 2006.
5. Equal opportunities are a reserved matter under section L2 of Part II of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act. However, the Scottish Government has the power to promote equal opportunities and to impose duties on devolved public bodies to ensure they comply with equal opportunity requirements.