Select committee: Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 13
Third Report: Unequal impact? Coronavirus and BAME people
Published 15 Dec 2020
Paragraph 103
Addressed to Government Equalities Office
Women and Equalities Committee Unequal impact? Coronavirus and BAME people All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
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.
From: Women and Equalities Committee, Third Report: Unequal impact? Coronavirus and BAME people (HC 384), paragraph 103, 15 December 2020
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 5 March 2021.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response addresses each recommendation separately, agreeing that the COVID-19 recovery must address health inequalities while declining or not adopting several specific proposals, including the NHS Health Check age change and a new overcrowding strategy.
- On health inequalities, the government "agrees that the COVID-19 recovery must be undertaken in a way that addresses health inequalities", but it does not say it will implement the Marmot recommendations in full.
- On extending NHS Health Checks to BAME people from age 25, the government says it "would be inappropriate" to adopt the recommendation "at this stage", because an ongoing review is considering the appropriate starting age.
- On a strategy to reduce overcrowding, the government "recognises the Committee’s findings on overcrowding, but does not accept the recommendation", citing work already underway. It also says it is "not appropriate" to take work forward on a separate housing conditions strategy, citing duplication and delay.
- On Universal Credit ethnicity data, the Department for Work and Pensions says it "does not have the legal power to mandate" this, and that primary legislation would be required. On Statutory Sick Pay for zero-hours workers, it says extension would require new primary legislation.