Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Keen of Elie on 19 December 2017 (HLWS365), who are the members of the Race and Ethnicity Board of Senior Officials; and how they plan for the Board to take account of discrimination against gypsy, traveller and Roma people.

As part of the Government’s response to the Lammy Review, we have set up a Race and Ethnicity Board to monitor our progress on the recommendations, and the wider agenda of race disparity. The Board is chaired by the Ministry of Justice Director General for Offender Reform and Commissioning, Justin Russell. Membership of the Board includes senior level representation from departmental policy groups and operational agencies such as HM Prison and Probation Service and HM Courts and Tribunal Service. There is also representation at an appropriate grade from other relevant Government departments and organisations including the Parole Board, Welsh Government and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

The scope of the Board is the same as the Lammy Review, therefore due consideration will be given to the issues experienced by the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma community. The Board has already met and is considering how best to engage the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community.