Memorandum by the Equal Opportunities
Commission (UWP 95)
PROPOSED URBAN WHITE PAPER—THE NEED
TO INTEGRATE EQUALITY
The EOC welcomes the Environment, Transport &
Regional Affair's Committee's decision to undertake an inquiry
into what provisions should be contained in the above proposed
White Paper, particularly as there is a clear intention outlined
in the Press Notice to integrate the various policies for employment,
competitiveness, housing, transport and public services to foster
urban regeneration.
— Firstly, we recommend that the economic
benefits of ensuring equality and promoting best practice are
prioritised both at the beginning and throughout the White Paper,
rather than simply included as a separate "equal opportunities"
item.
— Secondly, you may be aware that the
EOC is currently advising the new Regional Development Agencies
on how best to implement the Government's requirement to integrate
equality into their regional economic strategies.
— It is therefore crucial that the
proposed Urban White Paper should add value to this approach by
requiring that all policies to foster urban regeneration include
an assessment of how they are likely to affect different groups,
and a requirement to take action to ensure that they are taken
into account from the beginning of the policy development process
to its subsequent implementation and evaluation. Policy proposals
should also include a gender impact analysis, making full use
of disaggregated statistics and data and consulting interest groups
and service users.
— Finally, we recommend that Government
departments and agencies should work with the local Childcare
Partnerships to develop and implement childcare strategies as
an integral part of urban policy development to facilitate the
full participation of women in economic and civic life.
I look forward to reading the forthcoming White
Paper.
Sheila Wild
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