Recommendations & Conclusions
4 items
10
Recommendation
Third Report: Unequal impact? Coronavir…
Rejected
There is a link between the occupation of a person and their exposure, vulnerability and risk of contracting the virus. We fear that work on formally establishing this link has been significantly delayed. No clear assessments have been made on whether BAME workers in shutdown sectors have experienced a loss …
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There is a link between the occupation of a person and their exposure, vulnerability and risk of contracting the virus. We fear that work on formally establishing this link has been significantly delayed. No clear assessments have been made on whether BAME workers in shutdown sectors have experienced a loss of income. We believe that the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s inquiry into the experiences and treatment of ethnic minority workers in lower paid roles in the health and social care sector should be the start, but not the extent, of its work in assessing the relationship between coronavirus, occupation and inequality. We recommend that the Equality and Human Rights Commission extends the terms of reference for the inquiry and commits to considering occupation as a risk factor in a wider range of 50 Unequal impact? Coronavirus and BAME people sectors. We recommend that the inquiry focus should investigate the economic impacts of coronavirus for workers and determine if there is a causal link between occupation and exposure, infection and mortality rates.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects extending the EHRC's inquiry terms of reference to include economic impacts, stating it would undermine the current focus, and indicates that responsibility for equality impact assessments lies with individual departments while wider government research addresses economic impacts.
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Government Equalities Office
13
Recommendation
Third Report: Unequal impact? Coronavir…
Rejected
There are known barriers to applying to Universal Credit. These have been thrown into sharp focus by the pandemic. Given that the country has now exited two national lockdowns and continues to be subject to covid-19 restrictions, it is critical that the Government ensures that those who need Universal Credit …
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There are known barriers to applying to Universal Credit. These have been thrown into sharp focus by the pandemic. Given that the country has now exited two national lockdowns and continues to be subject to covid-19 restrictions, it is critical that the Government ensures that those who need Universal Credit can access it. The Government should immediately address issues with digital connectivity particularly given the continuing uncertainty over the level of covid-19 restrictions, which means a significant minority could become further isolated from vital support. The Government should develop a Universal Credit mobile application so that people can access the service on their phones.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects developing a separate Universal Credit mobile application, stating the existing online service works effectively on smartphones and a new app would impact delivery. They also note telephone support is available for those unable to use online services.
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Government Equalities Office
14
Recommendation
Third Report: Unequal impact? Coronavir…
Rejected
The Government does not know enough about how Universal Credit is operating for different groups. The Government does not know, for example, how many BAME claimants there are and if they are negatively affected by the Universal Credit application system. We recommend that the Government should make the equality survey …
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The Government does not know enough about how Universal Credit is operating for different groups. The Government does not know, for example, how many BAME claimants there are and if they are negatively affected by the Universal Credit application system. We recommend that the Government should make the equality survey that is a part of the Universal Credit application mandatory for applicants and claimants so that the ethnicity data of applicants and claimants can be improved.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects making the equality survey mandatory for Universal Credit applicants, stating that the Department for Work and Pensions lacks the legal power and that primary legislation would be required.
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Government Equalities Office
17
Recommendation
Third Report: Unequal impact? Coronavir…
Rejected
Poor housing conditions have adverse impacts on health; living in poor quality housing is an aggravating factor in experiencing coronavirus severely. Pre-existing housing inequalities may have exacerbated the impact of coronavirus on BAME people. We welcome the Social Housing White Paper 2020 that the Government published in November 2020. We …
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Poor housing conditions have adverse impacts on health; living in poor quality housing is an aggravating factor in experiencing coronavirus severely. Pre-existing housing inequalities may have exacerbated the impact of coronavirus on BAME people. We welcome the Social Housing White Paper 2020 that the Government published in November 2020. We recommend that the Government publish and implement a strategy to improve housing conditions in social housing and privately rented accommodation by the end of Summer 2021. (Paragraph 122) No recourse to public funds
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects publishing a new strategy by Summer 2021, stating it is already reviewing the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) as part of a major commitment to improve rented home standards, with initial findings expected in …
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Government Equalities Office