How equalities are managed in Government and the role of the GEO

Written evidence submitted by Business Disability Forum, March 2021

BDF has been concerned for some time about the lack of strategic vision and delivery of disability inclusion from Government. In our response to the Women and Equalities Committee’s inquiry on the role of the Government Equalities Office (GEO), we have recommended the following:

• The remit of the GEO should be cross-equalities and cross-intersectional. This includes a commitment to mixed-method longitudinal data collection that understands and uncovers the lived experience of inequalities in the UK.
• The GEO should develop a resourced strategic vision and action plan to address inequalities across the UK. This must also have appropriate financial investment.
• The role of Equalities Minister should be standalone, strategic, and hold individual Government departments to account for their equalities related initiatives and activities.
• The Government should ensure appropriate and sufficient investment in the Equalities and Human Rights Commission so that it can continue to deliver strategic equalities and human rights research, inquiries, and expand its enforcement role.
• The Equalities Minister must develop a framework for cross-intersectional co-design and co-production when designing policies and public services.