APPG Equalities 29 th October 2014 Fair Financial Decision-Making: Follow up to the Equality & Human Rights Commission’s S31 assessment of the 2010 Spending Review Mark Hammond – CEO EHRC

Details of the APPG session Chair:Sandra Osborne MP Time/Date:16:00 – 17:15, Wednesday 29 October 2014 Venue:House of Commons, Committee Room 10 Part 1:AGM (16:00-16:05) Part 2:Fair Financial Decision-Making: Follow up to the EHRC’s assessment of the government’s 2010 Spending Review (16:05-17:15) Introduction to the (progress) report’s main findings – Mark Hammond, Chief Executive, Equality and Human Rights Commission Cumulative Impact Assessment – Jonathan Portes, Director, National Institute of Economic and Social Research Q&A and discussion

Introduction What I will cover today: Why the EHRC carried out the S.31 Assessment Our Report on Progress, published June this year –Improvements by HM Treasury –Scope for further work/contribution of the Advisory Group Handing over to Jonathan Portes - NIESR o As our expert on this project, Jonathan has led exploratory work taking soundings from within Treasury and more widely o With Howard Reed from Landman Economics he has delivered an exciting feasibility report with case study on a modelling methodology for cumulative equality impact assessment- a key recommendation of the S.31 report o Jonathan will share his thoughts on taking forward the recommendations from that report Mark Hammond - What next for EHRC/Treasury

Aims of the original S31 Assessment: To work constructively with HM Treasury to evaluate its decision-making process and the steps taken to comply with the legislation Identify any potential opportunities for improvement Enable lessons to be learnt across government to improve outcomes for people with different protected characteristics by putting fairness and transparency at the heart of difficult decisions

S.31 Progress Report, June Improvements by HM Treasury: Progress on collection and use of equality evidence for fiscal decision-making Some systemisation for individual measures with template for departments for key spend areas Step change with more attention now than at SR10 to understand impact of measures on people with protected characteristics Treasury’s “Impact on Equalities” analysis report signals a greater commitment from government

S31 Progress Report, June Scope for further work: Room for improvements for next Spending Review Data returns to Treasury vary – departments need direction on importance of improved qualitative work on individual spending choices Cumulative equality impact assessment necessary to shape decisions and mitigations effectively More clarity needed on accountability for decision-making for overall equality impact of fiscal events The next SR “Equality Impact” report to highlight quantitative, qualitative and cumulative impacts for specific high profile measures

Progress Report key findings for government departments: The role of departments in Spending Reviews and fiscal decisions needs further clarification, some departments are clear about their role, others less so Departments indicated a need for more clarity and guidance on what is required of them, including on approaches to equality impact in practice Case studies in cross government guidance would support sharing of effective practice

The Fair Financial Decision Advisory Group contribution: Has considered key issues raised in S31 report ie: –Feasibility of cumulative impact –Assessing equality impact – data availability, collection and methodology –Where responsibility and accountability for decision making lies Considered and fed back on Cumulative Impact Assessment research report by Landman Economics and NIESR Consideration of the form and content of cross government guidance for fiscal events including Spending Reviews

What we would like to see as part of the next Spending Review process: Continued improvements to high-level work by Treasury including transparency and clarity on accountability Cross government guidance for departments that provides them with clarity on their responsibilities and requirements around equality evidence gathering, enabling more qualitative work by departments on individual spending choices Updating of the Green Book

What we would like to see as part of the next Spending Review process cont; A description of the cumulative or aggregate impact of measures and further exploration of the use of quantitative methodology Allocation of a dedicated scrutiny role on equality for next Spending Review and beyond, including an equality challenge group An equalities statement alongside next and subsequent Spending Reviews that fully reflects evidence of equality impact for key areas

Final stages of Fair Financial Decision- Making/S31 follow up project: Meeting with Treasury team to consider options for further work, with a particular view to how the next Spending Review might encompass improvements already made, and to assess desired outcomes from further work Arrange further meeting(s) of Advisory Group members to discuss next steps and final stages Preparation of a short “rounding off” report to be published in Feb 2015 highlighting achievements from the project and bringing this phase of the work to a close