asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, how many consultations the Northern Ireland Office has arranged in each year since 1999; what form such consultations took; and what groups they consulted; and [HL7544]
Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, whether the groups consultedby Northern Ireland Office responded to any consultation; if so, to what extent and in what form they addressed equality of opportunity issues; and whether any suggestions were made leading to a change in proposed policies.[HL7545]
The NIO equality scheme, approved by the Equality Commission in November 2001, set out how the department proposed to fulfil the duties of Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, with regard to all of its policies and functions. In 2006, the NIO conducted a comprehensive review of the operation of the scheme during its first five years,and this report was submitted to the Equality Commission in July 2006.
Information on consultations prior to 2001 is not available. However, as part of the equality screening and equality impact assessment processes set out in the equality scheme, the Northern Ireland Office provides an opportunity for consultation groups, stakeholders and the wider public to contribute to NIO polices and legislation including, where appropriate, written consultation exercises, focus groups and public meetings. The aim is to increase the involvement of people and groups in public consultation and to seek their views. Obtaining views from across the community in the form of public consultations is considered an important part of policy-making and development.
Consultations are carried out in accordance with the Cabinet Office code of practice on written consultation, and the consultation period will normally last for a minimum of 12 weeks to give the public time to respond. The Northern Ireland Office consults with the list of consultees named in the Northern Ireland Equality Commission’s guide to the statutory duties, and since 2001 this list has been updated annually and on request throughout the year. Further details on equality-related consultation exercises may be found in the five-year review of the NIO equality scheme on the Northern Ireland Office website at www.nio.gov.uk.
There would be disproportionate costs associated with the collation of information on responses toall consultations. However, the Northern Ireland Office website at www.nio.gov.uk provides a libraryof consultations and, where available, the summary of responses and any associated revision to the policy or legislation, although, as equality is mainstreamed effectively into decision making, it can be difficult to identify changes to a policy made as a result of consultation alone.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, how many consultations the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland has arranged in each year since 1999; and what groups the office consulted; and [HL7546]
Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, whether the groups consulted by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland responded to any consultation; if so, to what extent and in what form they addressed equality of opportunity issues; and whether any suggestions were made leading to a change in proposed policies.[HL7547]
Equality-related consultations arising from Section 75 of the Northern IrelandAct 1998 began after equality schemes were approved by the Equality Commission in 2001. Between 2001-02 and 2005-06, in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, there were15 equality-related consultations. Further details can be found in the department’s statutory five-year review of its equality scheme which is publicly available on its website at http://www.ofmd fmni.gov.uk/index/equality. For each consultation, the department consults groups and individuals who have requested that they be included on the Section 75 consultation list (this is also available on the OFMDFM website as noted above), which was established as part of the department’s equality scheme for these purposes. This list is updated every year.
In relation to whether and how groups respond to consultation, this information is not readily available in the form requested and could only be obtainedat disproportionate cost. However, the noble Lord may wish to note that for every equality-related consultation issued, officials record to whom consultations were issued, who responded and what was said. A summary of consultation responses is published (usually on the department’s website).
In relation to policy changes arising from consultation, when equality is mainstreamed effectively into decision-making throughout the policy development process, there may be no changes to the policy per se at a later stage.
asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, how many consultations the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland has arranged in each year since 1999; what those consultations were; and what groups they consulted.[HL7558]
The Department for Employment and Learning has carried out a total of 39 consultations since 1999. A list of these consultations has been placed in the Library.
A current list of all people and organisations consulted in line with the department’s statutory equality duty has also been placed in the Library.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, how many consultations the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland has arranged in each year since 1999; what those consultations were; and what groups they consulted; and [HL7636]
Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, whether the groups consulted by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland responded to any consultation; to what extent and in what form they addressed equality of opportunity issues; and whether any suggestions were made leading to a change in proposed policies.[HL7637]
As Section 75 did not come into force until 1 January 2000, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety did not carry out any consultations under the terms of Section 75 before then.
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has not maintained a central comprehensive register with details of all consultations that have taken place with Section 75 groups since 1 January 2000. It is therefore not possible to provide a comprehensive Answer to these Questions without incurring disproportionate costs. However, records have been maintained showing that 20 equality impact assessments (EQIAs) have been carried out since January 2000 under Section 75. Details of these EQIAs can be found on the department’s website at www.dhsspsni.gov. uk/index/hss/equality/eq-completed-eqias.htm.
The groups consulted as part of the 20 EQIAs will have been drawn from the department’s consultation list which is updated on an ongoing basis. The current list has been placed in the Library.
While there is little evidence in the EQIA reports to indicate that the outcome of the consultations alone resulted in any significant changes to the 20 policies concerned, there are examples of the EQIA process having prompted changes and improvements to better promote equality of opportunity. Details, including examples, can be found at the department’s report of its five-year review of its equality scheme at www.d hsspsni.gov.uk/index/hss/equality/eq-section75/equality-review-of-equality-scheme.htm.