Government Outlines New Plans For Achieving Race Equality In The UK

A wide-reaching consultation on improving opportunities for black, asian and minority ethnic people was announced today by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears.

A new report demonstrates that the Government has made significant progress in tackling race equality in everything from the job market and health services, to education, housing and criminal justice.

The third and final report on the Government's race equality strategy, Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society shows that further progress depends on recognising that different ethnic groups are experiencing disadvantage in different ways. The Government is consulting on how best to move away from a "one size fits all" approach to targeted help addressing the different needs of particular groups.

The consultation will also take account of the additional challenge posed by the economic downturn. Past evidence shows that Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, as well as disadvantaged White people, are hit harder than others because of the type of job they have or because they live in deprived areas.

Speaking at the Stephen Lawrence Conference in London to mark the tenth anniversary of the Macpherson report, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said: "Our research shows that the "one size fits all" approach to achieving race equality needs to change. Different ethnic groups are experiencing disadvantage in different ways and are not all in the same position.

"I don't believe there is any one "silver bullet" to solve these problems. If we are to make further progress, especially in light of new challenges such as the downturn, we need to identify what has and hasn't worked."

She added: "It is clear there are some Black, Asian and minority ethnic community organisations doing great work to challenge and overcome disadvantage, for example organisations like the Runnymede Trust and Operation Black Vote.

"This is why today I'm pleased to confirm that we are making £12 million available to national and regional strategic partners working across a range of public services to tackle disadvantage or barriers to reduce gaps in outcomes for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people. This includes action to support women, young people and people with disabilities from those communities."

To kick-start the debate a discussion document Tackling Race Equalities, is also being published. It invites views on what the Government's future approach to promoting race equality should be, asking as well as rights, what responsibilities are there for people from all communities in Britain to others and themselves.

(JM/BMcC)