Question
To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, what assessments have been made since 2010 of the potential merits of establishing the Government Equalities Office within a permanent parent department or as a standalone department.
The Government Equalities Office (GEO) is a small policy unit which, under successive governments, has moved between parent Departments following changes of Ministerial portfolio.
The resources, productivity and capacity of the GEO are kept under continuous review to ensure they are sufficient to deliver the Government’s equalities programme.
No formal assessment has been made of the financial costs, other costs or benefits of relocating GEO staff.
Following the recent reshuffle in July, the GEO will continue to be based in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and will serve the Ministers for Women and Equalities.