Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what her Department's policy is on the Rooney Rule when drawing up shortlists for employing staff.

The Office for Equality and Opportunity (OEO) is aware of what has come to be known as the Rooney Rule, but this is a US initiative and we have not adopted a policy on it.

As both employer and custodian of the policy as set out in the Equality Act 2010 (The Act), OEO is familiar with the positive action provisions in the Act. These provisions enable employers to deploy positive measures in recruitment where certain groups are under-represented in the workforce, whether as a whole or in more senior positions. Candidates from the under-represented group must be equally qualified for the role alongside other candidates before they can be considered for selection. In other words positive discrimination, which disregards merit, is unlawful under the Act..