Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2018 to Question 128781, if he will set out the external stakeholders who were consulted on embedding diversity and inclusion in civil service work force plans and diversity and inclusion strategy.
Answered by Oliver Dowden
The Civil Service Workforce Plan set out our ambition to becoming the most inclusive employer in the UK. In October 2017 The Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy set out our plan to achieve this.
In developing the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy officials engaged with a number of external groups. This included working with the Civil Service Diversity Expert Advisers, a range of expert organisations and employers networks where we tested and consulted on specific aspects of our strategy.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Civil Service Workforce Plan 2016-2020 how many meetings the diversity champion held with race equality groups in on the setting of key targets for inclusivity on grounds of race.
Answered by Oliver Dowden
Since publication of the Civil Service Workforce Plan 2016-2020 the Civil Service Permanent Secretary Race Champion, Richard Heaton, has met regularly with internal race equality groups including staff networks and departmental race champions. He has also met or spoken with external race equality experts, including the Civil Service Diversity Advisor Karen Blackett and external search consultants to discuss the priority areas for the Civil Service. The Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy was published in October 2017 which sets out our plans to continue to increase the representation of ethnic minority staff at all levels across the Civil Service.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to answer Question 127351, Question 127353, and Question 127354, tabled on 7 February 2018 by the hon. Member for Manchester Gorton.
Answered by Oliver Dowden
I refer the Hon. Member to the answers to PQ127351 and PQ127354 given on 14th March 2018 and the answer to PQ127353 given on 21st March.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the workforce plan 2016-2020 for improving the diversity and inclusiveness of the Civil Service, whether any meetings were held by the Diversity Champion with external groups when setting key targets for her work.
Answered by Oliver Dowden
The Civil Service Workforce Plan is our strategy for readying the workforce to respond to the challenges and the opportunities of today, and in the years to come. As part of this, five key strands of activity were identified, including becoming the most inclusive employer in the UK. The Civil Service is committed to being a role model for other UK employers and to continue to be a great place to work.
The Permanent Secretary Diversity Champions, which includes Sue Owen as lead Champion for Diversity & Inclusion, engaged with a number of external groups on the contents of the workforce plan. These included engagement with Civil Service Diversity Expert Advisors and other external stakeholders on embedding diversity and inclusion within our Civil Service workforce plans and the development of the Civil Service Diversity & Inclusion Strategy.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Civil Service Workforce Plan 2016-2020, what formal role will be given to staff networks to promote inclusivity on grounds of religion or belief.
Answered by Oliver Dowden
The Civil Service Workforce Plan 2016-2020 set out ambition to the UK’s most inclusive employer. To deliver this objective the Government published “A Brilliant Civil Service: becoming the UK’s most inclusive employer” in October 2017, which committed to focusing on religion, belief and non-belief as part of our wider approach to inclusion.
This Strategy set out a commitment to work with staff networks in the Civil Service, including faith and belief networks, to provide advice and support on improving the experience of staff, as well as promoting interfaith dialogue and inclusion. They play an important role in contributing to the debate on what progress we should make and how; as well as providing peer support and advice to others, including Permanent Secretaries and senior leaders.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what diversity and inclusion objectives on religion or belief were established by the civil service diversity champion as part of the workforce plan 2016-20.
Answered by Oliver Dowden
The Civil Service Workforce Plan 2016-2020 set out ambition to the UK’s most inclusive employer. To deliver this objective the Government published “A Brilliant Civil Service: becoming the UK’s most inclusive employer” in October 2017, which committed to focusing on religion, belief and non-belief as part of our wider approach to inclusion. A Civil Service Diversity Champion for Faith & Belief was appointed and an announcement made on her appointment as part of the communications that were rolled-out following publication of that Strategy.
The role of the Diversity Champion is to promote and support interfaith dialogue and engagement across the Civil Service, and provide leadership and support on religion, belief and non-belief as part of our broader approach to inclusion.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what consultation the Government has undertaken on the phrasing of questions in the census.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which (a) groups and (b) organisations were involved in stakeholder consultation exercises as part of the Race Disparity Audit, broken down by (i) sector, (ii) race and (iii) ethnicity.
Answered by Damian Green
All UK Government Departments, the Office for National Statistics, the UK Statistics Authority and all three Devolved Administrations have been consulted about the development of the Audit. Outside organisations consulted about the Race Disparity Audit are listed below. Data is not held on the race or ethnicity of individuals who were consulted.
Academic sector
Academy Of Medical Sciences
Birkbeck College, University of London
Bristol University
British Academy
Huddersfield University
London School of Economics
NatCen Social Research
Royal Society
Sheffield University
Universities UK
University of Edinburgh
University of Essex
University of London
University of Manchester
University of Oxford
University of Sheffield
Non-Government Organisations
Belong
BEMIS Scotland
Big Lottery Fund
Bite the Ballot
Black Thrive
Black Training and Enterprise Group
BME Health Forum
BRAP
British Heart Foundation
Business in the Community
Cancer Research UK
CEMVO Scotland
Changing the Chemistry (CtC)
Chinese Health Living Centre
Citizens Advice
Data Orchard
Education and Employers Taskforce
Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion
Equality and Diversity Forum
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Friends, Families and Travellers
FullFact
Gypsy Traveller Empowerment
Inclusion Cornwall
Institute for Public Policy Research
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Kings Fund
National Black Women’s Network
Northern Ireland Council for Racial Equality
Office for Fair Access
Olmec
One Voice For Travellers
Open Data Institute
Operation Black Vote
QED UK
Race Equality Foundation
Race on the Agenda
RJ Working
Roma Support Group
Royal Academy of Engineering
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Runnymede Trust
St Giles Trust
The Leeds GATE
Voice 4 Change
Work Foundation
Young Foundation
Private sector
Green Park Ltd
Public sector
Bradford City Council
Bradford College
Bradford Health and Well Being Board
Camden Council
City of London Academies Trust
Cornwall Council
Greater London Authority
Hackney Council
Haringey Council
Harris Federation
Higher Education Funding Council for England
Lambeth Council
Office for Students
NHS BME Network
NHS Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group
NHS Yorkshire and Humber Commissioning Support
Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust
Sheffield Council
South London and Maudsley NHS Trust