Committee
Equalities and Human Rights Committee 25 February 2021
25 Feb 2021 · S5 · Equalities and Human Rights Committee
Item of business
Equality and Human Rights Commission and Scottish Human Rights Commission
I found that very interesting. Obviously, the tracking of the money is absolutely essential to measuring the outcomes. If people are not able to do that, that is very worrying. Judith Robertson’s comments are very helpful.
In the same item of business
The Convener
SNP
Item 2 is evidence from the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Scottish Human Rights Commission. They will give an annual update and overview of th...
John Wilkes (Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland)
I thank the committee for giving us the opportunity to share some of the work that we have been doing and to look at our future priorities. I am here with my...
The Convener
SNP
That is very thorough and helpful. Committee members will be keen to probe you on some of the aspects of your work that you have mentioned. I will bring in G...
Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
SNP
I was going to ask about the impact that Covid-19 has had on the priorities for your work programme, but I think you have covered that very well. However, I ...
John Wilkes
For the report that we published in October, we looked at some of the immediate impacts of Covid. The evidence shows that there is increased underemployment ...
Gillian Martin
SNP
How has the pandemic impacted so far on the commission’s staffing and resources and on your capacity to carry out what sounds like a really intense programme...
John Wilkes
Yes. Like many organisations, we have been working at home for about a year now. As I said in my opening statement, we had to review very quickly the work pl...
The Convener
SNP
Lynn Welsh, do you have anything further to add in answer to Gillian Martin’s question on the impact that Covid has had on your priorities and on your staffi...
Lynn Welsh (Equalities and Human Rights Commission Scotland)
I do not think so. John Wilkes has covered it quite adequately, thank you.
Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee City West) (SNP)
SNP
Thank you for your opening remarks, which have given us a good insight into how you have worked during the pandemic. In your business plan, as well as talkin...
John Wilkes
Yes, certainly. Lynn Welsh is better placed to talk about that, because she leads on some of that work for us in Scotland.
Lynn Welsh
We are still keeping a close eye on it. We want to ensure that any equality or human rights issues or legislation that comes from Europe remains to protect t...
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
Those are two really big things for the commission, coming at the same time. Is that giving you scope and capacity to look at other areas? Last year, we saw ...
Lynn Welsh
No, we are also involved in juggling other quite large areas of work. Our interest is more in equality than in human rights. Our sister organisation—the Scot...
The Convener
SNP
John Wilkes, do you wish to add anything to that?
John Wilkes
We decided to launch our race inquiry on the back of the Covid impact and because, like everybody else, we were aware of the focus on Black Lives Matter. We ...
Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
John Wilkes, in your opening remarks, you talked about the disadvantages and inequalities that are experienced by different groups. The pandemic has meant th...
John Wilkes
We have been working a lot with the Government over the past year, and I think that it is fair to say that our view is that it has been a mixed bag. Some con...
Alexander Stewart
Con
Consultation with organisations such as yours is vital, as you have a key role to play. Have you had to ensure that that key role has been reinforced? You in...
John Wilkes
It is not our role to dictate how the Government fulfils its responsibilities. We have tried to be helpful to the Government where we can in certain areas th...
Lynn Welsh
I am happy to add to what John Wilkes has said. Over the past year, we have kept a very close eye on things, not only with Government but with others. We hav...
Alexander Stewart
Con
As you have identified, lessons will be learned from this whole process. Government and others might not have been as involved as necessary or mistakes might...
Lynn Welsh
That is fair comment. In the coming year, we are planning to do more work on the capabilities generally. A Government review of those is due, and we have bee...
The Convener
SNP
The committee certainly recognises your comments about data and about equality being at the centre and not on the side. Mary Fee will ask some more question...
John Wilkes
Again, I defer to Lynn Welsh on that. She has been our lead on the work of the incorporation task force.
Lynn Welsh
This has been front and centre in the work of our sister organisation, the Scottish Human Rights Commission, but we have, as we said earlier, been involved i...
The Convener
SNP
The United Kingdom Government is currently reviewing the Human Rights Act 1998—it is looking at whether it is working in practice and whether it needs to cha...
Lynn Welsh
Yes, we intend to respond to the consultation that is on-going. We have not yet put in our response, and I would not want to jump the gun on that. However, g...
The Convener
SNP
That is helpful.
Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Public authorities have been asked to provide a statement if they are unable to provide the equality outcomes that are required under the public sector equal...