Commission on the Powers of the National
Assembly for Wales Consultation on a Single Equality
Body for Great Britain
Response from Equal Opportunities Commission Wales
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| The Westminster Government opened a consultation
late in 2002 on the future infrastructure for equality
in-Great Britain. The current Equality Commissions (Equal
Opportunities Commission, Commission for Racial Equality
and Disability Rights Commission) each cover England,
Wales and Scotland, with offices in Wales and Scotland,
but none has formally devolved powers or resources to
its offices in Wales or Scotland. None has formal links
with the National Assembly for Wales or the Scottish Parliament. |
| In conducting its consultation, the Government
included a question on devolution, question 7. This said: |
"The Government intends to establish any new equality
machinery for the whole of Great Britain, reflecting
the devolution settlement. What arrangements need
to be in place to meet the distinctive economic, political,
legal and cultural circumstances in Scotland and Wales?"
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| Some of the key responses, from the viewpoint
of-the Commission on the Powers of the National Assembly
for Wales, are attached. These come from: |
| The Associate Parliamentary Group on Sex
Equality |
- The Welsh Assembly Government
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- The National Assembly for Wales Equality of Opportunity
Committee
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- A Diversity Group drawn together by the EOC, CRE
and DRC in Wales
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- The Equal Opportunities Commission
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| These responses, and many others, address
the devolution issues within the context of the question
asked in the consultation paper, which did not invite
comment on the possibility of separate Equality Commissions
in Wales and Scotland. |
| Common ground in the attached responses,
and many of the other 200 plus responses, include: |
| While the equality legislation remains
reserved to Westminster, it is vital that the Single Equality
Body in Wales retains its links with Westminster and Whitehall.
The Single Equality Body in_ Wales should have formal
links with the Assembly. The Wales Single Equality Body
should take proper account of the devolution legislation
framework. In particular, the Assembly's duty to promote
equality should be reflected in the-functions of the Single
Equality Body in Wales - with the body advising on and
monitoring the equality aspects of the Government of Wales
Act, namely section 120, which requires the Assembly to
promote equality, and section 48, which requires that
its business is carried out with due regard for equality.
The Single Equality Body in Wales should have sufficient
resources and autonomy to enable it to respond to the
distinctive equality agenda and priorities in Wales. Consideration
should be given to the Single Equality Body in Wales taking
responsibility for the equality aspects of the Welsh language.
The Assembly should have greater involvement in appointing
the Wales Commissioner - at present this is handled by
a Whitehall department, with the appointment made formally
by a Secretary of State.
17 April 2003
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