Voluntary Sector North West
St. Thomas Centre
3 July 2012
The inquiry is specifically focusing on Black, Pakistani and Bangladeshi women. The Runnymede Trust acts as secretariat for the group.
The inquiry will attempt to determine why 1 in 5 Black, Pakistani and Bangladeshi women are unemployed compared to only 1 in 14 White women. It will also seek to find ways to reduce these inequalities. As part of the inquiry, evidence sessions will be held in parliament and in the constituencies of the inquiry’s parliamentary sub-committee.
The terms of reference for the inquiry are as follows:
· Are unemployment rates of Black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani women being more affected by the current recession compared to previous recessions?
· What are the reasons behind the high levels of unemployment of these particular groups?
· How effective are current policies in addressing unemployment levels of the target groups? Is further intervention needed, and if so, what should this look like?
· What impact is redundancy and unemployment having on lone mothers and their children among the target groups?
· Have there been changes in labour market inactivity of certain groups, and if so, why?
You are also invited to attend the opening evidence session on 17th July, 2-4pm, House of Commons Committee Room 6.
Witnesses will include representatives from the National Apprenticeship Service, the private sector, academia and employment charities. More information will be circulated shortly.
The deadline for submitting written evidence is 3 September. Information on how to do so is available from the Runnymede Trust website. To reserve a place as an observer at the evidence session, please email vicki@runnymedetrust.org.
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