Exchange of correspondence between
the Chair of the Committee and the Minister for Equality concerning
scrutiny of the Government Equalities Office
Letter from Dr Phyllis Starkey MP, Chair of the
Communities and Local Government Committee, to Rt Hon Harriet
Harman MP, Minister for Equality
The Communities and Local Government Committee has
discussed the creation of the Government Equalities Office and
that Office's assumption of responsibility for equality policy
across Government.
The Committee has noted that, as a new Department,
the GEO does not fall within the remit of any House of Commons
departmental select committee. The Committee considers it to be
undesirable in principle that a Government Department should remain
outside the departmental select committee scrutiny system, but
the question has arisen in a very practical way in the context
of Parliamentary scrutiny of the Estimates. The Committee understands
that the GEO prepared an explanatory memorandum to accompany its
new Estimate last year, but was uncertain to whom it should be
sent.
In view of the facts that
- the GEO assumed responsibility
for CSR04 Public Service Agreement 9 from the Department for Communities
and Local Government (CLG);
- CLG's Permanent Secretary, Peter Housden, is
for the time being at least the Accounting Officer for the Government
Equalities Office; and
- my Committee has recent experience in this area
of policy, having, as you know, concluded a Report on Equality
last year;
We have concluded that it is appropriate for the
Communities and Local Government Committee formally to assume
responsibility for scrutiny of the work of the GEO, including
scrutiny of its Estimates and accompanying explanatory memoranda,
Autumn Performance Reports and Departmental Annual Reports. The
matter has been discussed with the Work and Pensions Committee,
whose Chairman has confirmed to me that it is content with this
arrangement, subject of course to that Committee's continuing
interest in various areas of the GEO's work.
I trust that you are content with these arrangements.
[…]
Dr Phyllis Starkey
Chair, Communities and Local Government Committee
25 February 2008
Reply from Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP, Minister
for Equality
Thank you for your letter of 25 February. I welcome
your interest in the work of the Government Equalities Office
(GEO), and I am happy to accept your conclusion that your Committee
assume responsibility for the scrutiny of the work of the GEO.
I note, in particular, the point you make about your Committee's
recent experience in this area of policy and I have read the Committee's
Report on Equality with interest. I am certain that significant
benefits will accrue from a close and effective relationship between
GEO and your Committee. My officials and I look forward to working
with you.
[…]
Harriet Harman
Minister for Equality
17 March 2008
