This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New race relations measures
12/03/2002
New race equality responsibilities for key public sector
bodies in Scotland which come into force tomorrow.
They are among a package of race relations measures
highlighted today by Social Justice Minister Iain Gray.
From tomorrow, public bodies including the Scottish
Executive, NHS Boards, local authorities, the police and
educational establishments will have just over eight months
to set out detailed and specific arrangements for promoting
race equality under the Race Relations Amendment Act
2000.
Most bodies will have to produce a comprehensive Race
Equality Strategy by November 30, 2002, and put in place
arrangements for ensuring they have racially-sensitive
employment policies and practices.
The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) will play a key
role in helping public bodies promote race equality by
advising them and identifying examples of good practice -
and have the power to enforce action if a body fails to
meet its specific duties.
Meanwhile, the Minister also announced today:
- An additional £223,000 for the Ethnic Minority Grant
Scheme 2002-03. This brings the total for this fund to
£500,000. The distribution of these additional funds will
be announced at a later date. Today's announcement is
linked to the publication of the Executive's response to
the Review of Funding for Minority Ethnic Groups in the
Voluntary Sector.
- £60,000 over two years to help develop high quality
translating and interpreting services across Scotland.
Speaking during a visit to Leith Walk Nursery School in
Edinburgh - part of Leith Walk Primary School where more
than 50% of classes in the national test age groups come
from backgrounds where English is not the language spoken
at home - Mr Gray said:
"Racial discrimination is unacceptable in 21
st century Scotland and the public sector should
take the lead in tackling it. Public bodies are already
under a general obligation to promote race equality.
"Now, under the Executive's new legislation, they will
also be legally responsible for ensuring that their
detailed policies, services and employment practices
address the needs of all of Scotland's communities,
whatever their race, colour or origin.
"This is all part of our aim of putting people first and
foremost and delivering the services that people want in
the way that they want them.
"We need to eliminate unlawful discrimination and
promote equality of opportunity and good relations between
different racial groups. Closing the opportunity gap is at
the heart of our agenda in Scotland."
Dharmendra Kanani, head of the CRE's Scottish office
welcomed today's announcement. He said: "The Race Relations
Act (as amended) was born out of the Stephen Lawrence
Inquiry Report, which spelt out the grave consequences of
public bodies neglecting race equality and the needs of
ethnic minority communities.
"The public sector's approach to racial equality has for
too long been marked by inconsistency and inertia. Of
course there have been examples of committed work. Some
councils, health trusts, schools and police forces have
been at the forefront of good practice, and have been
imaginative in providing real opportunity to their
employees and their communities. Others have done little.
Others tried to tack racial equality on as an 'added extra'
to their policies and gave neither the time nor the
priority needed to bring about real change. Little more
than a paper exercise, this approach failed to monitor the
impact of policies on the people who matter.
"This far reaching Act will steer an exciting course for
public services, both in the way we public bodies employ
our staff, and in the way we reach out to members of the
public - whether they are pupils, patients, council
tenants, children in care or other local people.
"This legislation sets a new agenda in which public
sector organisations must place race equality at the heart
of our functions, culture and aims.
"While the CRE is pleased to see the legislation in
place, we recognise that positive change will only come
about if organisations across Scotland are committed to the
spirit of the Act and deliver what is expected of them - a
better deal for ethnic minority communities, and better and
more tailored services for everyone!"
Translating
One of the key new duties under the RRAA is to improve
access to information and services for people from minority
ethnic communities and people with disabilities.
Guidelines published today by the
Scottish Forum on Translating, Interpreting and
Communication set out some core standards to help
public authorities improve their translating and
interpreting services - the £60,000 announced by the
Minister today will allow the Forum to employ a development
worker to take that work forward
Shamime Mansoori from Falkirk Council, the Forum's
Chair, said:
"Public authorities across Scotland are committed to
improving access to the information and services they
provide and we wanted to help them with this. The
Guidelines we are publishing today emphasise the need to
develop good practice when providing translation and
interpreting services that are sensitive to the very wide
range of language and communication needs of all the people
of Scotland from different backgrounds."
Race Equality Advisory Forum
Mr Gray also published today a response from the
Executive to the
Race Equality Advisory Forum (REAF) report
published in November 2001.
REAF's report highlighted the issues of concern to
Scotland's minority ethnic communities and suggested eight
action plans relating to sector-specific issues.
Mr Gray said :
"The Executive's response to REAF sets out our
commitments and race equality initiatives in a range of
areas that will improve services to the public, including
key policy areas such as health, education and housing.
"It also accepts key recommendations on issues such as
the collection of statistical data, research and
employment.
"REAF set out a strategy to help take us from where are
now to where we want to be. It is a challenging agenda but
one that I am determined the Executive should follow.
"We are committed to recognising and celebrating the
ethnic and cultural diversity which goes to make up
Scotland and we will work tirelessly to root out racism in
all its forms from public life in Scotland."
The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 came into force
on 2 April 2001. Its main provisions:-
- outlaw race discrimination in all public functions,
with certain very limited exceptions.
- place a general duty on specified authorities to
promote race equality.
- give powers to Government to impose specific duties
on public bodies to promote race equality and to the
Commission for Racial Equality to enforce those
specific duties.
The Scottish Translation, Interpreting and
Communications Forum is a group of public sector bodies
promoting best practice in the provision of translating and
interpreting services as a core part of the equality
agenda.
The Race Equality Advisory Forum (REAF) was established
to advise the Executive on the preparation of a race
equality strategy, develop detailed plans to tackle
institutional racism and advise on consultation with and
for minority ethnic communities.
The Ethnic Minority Grant Scheme (EMGS) gives Scottish
Executive grants to voluntary organisations in Scotland for
projects designed to reduce discrimination and promote
racial equality. Its aim is to provide initial funding to
foster new projects, which help support ethnic minorities
in Scotland by identifying and meeting specific needs and
improving access ethnic minorities have to mainstream
services. EMGS is administered on behalf of the Scottish
Executive by the Unemployed Voluntary Action Fund.
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations Race
Equality Development Unit (REDU) was established in 1991
with a remit to promote race equality in the Scottish
Voluntary Sector. REDU has been funded by the Scottish
Office/Executive since 1996. Funding from the Executive is
increasing from £39,250 to £48,000 per annum.
Details of the first tranche of the Ethnic Minority
grants scheme for 2002-03 which was announced on 27
December 2001 are available on
www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/2001/12/SE5101.aspx.