Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, since 2016, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General of 2 November 2016, Official Report, column 879, and pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2018 to Question 134113, on Travellers: Equality, what meetings (a) she and (b) her predecessor have had since 2016 with the Minister for the Cabinet Office on using the 2011 census classifications that differentiate Gypsies and Travellers.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
The Race Disparity Audit Inter Ministerial Group chaired by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster discusses matters pertaining to the progress of the Race Disparity Audit, including on the collection of ethnicity data.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General of 2 November 2016, Official Report, column 879, what progress his Department has made in using the 2011 census classifications that differentiate Gypsies and Travellers.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
The Race Disparity Audit website displays data where possible using the Census 2011 ethnic categories, which includes Gypsy or Irish Traveller. My Department has not contributed directly to the Audit as it does not deliver any front line services to the people of Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the oral Answer of 2 November 2016, Official Report, column 879, what steps his Department has taken to use 2011 census classifications, including on Gypsies and Travellers, to audit racial disparities in public service outcomes.
Answered by Chloe Smith
I refer the hon Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 11 July, UIN 3079.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the contribution from the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 2 November 2016, Official Report, column 879, what work is being done to progress work to distinguish Gypsies and Travellers using 2011 census classifications in his Department.
Answered by Chloe Smith
I refer the hon Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 11 July, UIN 3079.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps her Department is taking to implement the family test.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014. The Department of Works and Pensions published guidance for Departments and officials on how the test should be applied when formulating policy and my Department follows that guidance.
The Family Test is an integral part of the policy making process and is applied in a proportionate way in the development of all new policy in line with the Family Test guidance. While the guidance states that departments should consider publishing assessments carried out under the Test, there is no requirement to do so.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many of her Department's policies have been assessed against the family test; what steps she has taken to publish the outcome of such assessments; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014. The Department of Works and Pensions published guidance for Departments and officials on how the test should be applied when formulating policy and my Department follows that guidance.
The Family Test is an integral part of the policy making process and is applied in a proportionate way in the development of all new policy in line with the Family Test guidance. While the guidance states that departments should consider publishing assessments carried out under the Test, there is no requirement to do so.