Committee
Equal Opportunities Committee, 13 Sep 2005
13 Sep 2005 · S2 · Equal Opportunities Committee
Item of business
Equality Bill
Clause 11(4) states that, in carrying out its duties,"the Commission shall have particular regard to the importance of exercising the powers … in relation to communities defined by reference to race, religion or belief."During early consultations on the establishment of the new body, people expressed concern that a hierarchy of equalities would be created. Are the witnesses concerned about the apparent prioritising of these particular communities in such a way?
In the same item of business
The Convener:
Lab
Agenda item 2 is on the Equality Bill that is currently before the United Kingdom Parliament and on which the Scottish Executive intends to lodge a Sewel mot...
Tim Hopkins (Equality Network and Commission for Equality and Human Rights Steering Group):
We have felt all along that the Scotland commissioner will have a large workload. The existing three commissions each have a Scotland commissioner—those comm...
Ali Jarvis (Commission for Racial Equality):
Whether or not a formal deputy is the right route—that might just re-emphasise the feeling that "They are the Scottish people"—there must be a route to allow...
The Convener:
Lab
Are you content with the provision under which the secretary of state will need the consent of the Scottish ministers on the appointment of a Scottish commis...
Tim Hopkins:
Our feeling was that the phrase, "who knows about conditions in Scotland",in the job requirement for the commissioner was weak. On the other hand, the Scotti...
Ali Jarvis:
Tim Hopkins has mentioned that the phrase,"who knows about conditions in Scotland",is weak. It is important to be sure what the person's specification for th...
The Convener:
Lab
If you think that the phrase,"who knows about conditions in Scotland",is weak, how would you like it to be worded?
Ali Jarvis:
We have not discussed a preferred recommendation. The wording needs to be made stronger and should have more of a focus on the need to drive the agenda. The ...
Tim Hopkins:
I am not sure that the point that we are making requires a change to the bill; I think that the process will work in practice. A related point is that the me...
Adam Gaines (Disability Rights Commission):
It is important that the Scotland committee has representation from across a range of equality interests and from across Scotland. It should be reflective, r...
The Convener:
Lab
That is the difficulty about one commissioner knowing about everything in Scotland. It sounds quite incredible.
Tim Hopkins:
That is why the Scotland committee is important. At the GB level, there will be the 10 to 15-member commission that will have a chair and, at the Scotland le...
Ali Jarvis:
Our view is that, even if there were two full-time commissioners, they would not be able to represent the equality interests of Scotland. The model that Tim ...
Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab):
Lab
I am impressed with your optimism about the possibility that all the commissioners will be knowledgeable about Scotland and will understand it. Are you conte...
Tim Hopkins:
That is not set out in the bill. If the model that we have been discussing is followed, we would get the result that we need, which is what you have just des...
Marlyn Glen:
Lab
Should that be made explicit in the bill?
Tim Hopkins:
I do not think that we can legislate for everything; we will have to take some things on trust. The United Kingdom Government has already said in Parliament ...
Ali Jarvis:
Similarly, we cannot put job descriptions into legislation, but that is what we are starting to talk about when we think about the different types of experti...
The Convener:
Lab
A lot of that will be in the guidance.
Tim Hopkins:
It is important that the appointments to the committee should be made in line with the public appointments process. The Scotland commissioner will be a publi...
Marlyn Glen:
Lab
Is the panel content with the nature of the relationship that is embodied in clause 12(2) of the bill in relation to advising and making recommendations to t...
Tim Hopkins:
Yes.
Marlyn Glen:
Lab
In evidence to the committee on 15 June 2004, John Wilkes noted: "The Scottish committee will play a crucial role, but for it to do that, it will need to hav...
John Wilkes (Equal Opportunities Commission):
Broadly speaking, the principle that is being established is that the promotional powers of the commission are delegated to Scotland and Wales. All the power...
Tim Hopkins:
As it stands, the bill is rather inconsistent. As John Wilkes said, the principle is to delegate to the Scotland committee the promotional powers but not the...
Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab):
Lab
Does the panel have any concerns about the operation of the disability committee in relation to the operation of the Scotland committee? Is the panel content...
Adam Gaines:
That was a concern previously, but the bill takes matters much further and clarifies the situation. There is now a duty on the disability committee to consul...
Mr McGrigor:
Con
The explanatory notes accompanying the bill state that the estimated annual budget for the CEHR is £70 million. Are the witnesses content that that will be e...
John Wilkes:
Broadly speaking, we have concerns about the level of resource that is indicated to be allocated to the CEHR, although it is about £20 million more than the ...
Mr McGrigor:
Con
Do you have a figure in mind of what the Scotland committee should get?