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Equalities Programme for Government outlined

24 May 2010

The Government Equalities Office has published a summary of the Coalition's Equalities Programme for Government.

The Government believes that there are many barriers to social mobility and equal opportunities in Britain to-day, and promises concerted action to help build a fairer society. Specific commitments include:

• Promote equal pay and take a range of measures to end discrimination in the workplace
• Extend the right to request flexible working to all employees, consulting with business on how best to do
• Undertake a fair pay review in the public sector to implement our proposed '20 times’ pay multiple (top civil servant not paid more than 20 x the lowest paid civil servant)
• Look to promote gender equality on the boards of listed companies
• Promote improved community relations and opportunities for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, including by providing internships for under-represented minorities in every Whitehall department and funding a targeted national enterprise mentoring scheme for BAME people who want to start a business
• Stop the deportation of asylum seekers who have had to leave particular countries because their sexual orientation or gender identification puts them at proven risk of imprisonment, torture or execution
• Use relationships with other countries to push for unequivocal support for gay rights and for UK civil partnerships to be recognised internationally.

In addition Ministers have committed to implement the Equality Act 2010, and there are important commitments relevant to our work in other parts of the Programme.
 

New Equalities Ministers

• The Rt Hon Theresa May MP, Minister for Women and Equalities (in addition to her appointment as Home Secretary)
• Lynne Featherstone MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities).

Theresa May said: "Too many Britons still face discrimination because of their age, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion, belief or background. As a Government we will use every lever available to us to tear down the barriers that continue to hold people back, making Britain a fairer society for everyone."

For further details

• Government Equalities Office and new Ministers
• Full Coalition document outlining the programme for government

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