14 June 2002
By the end of last month, all public bodies were told, under the terms of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, to publish race equality schemes.
However, their efforts were undermined by an Audit Commission report published at the same time. This noted that just two in five local authorities had reached the first of five levels set out in the Commission for Racial Equality's good practice standard.
So, what do those who work on the frontline think themselves?
In the latest Public Inquiry, conducted with Reed Accountancy Personnel, it is clear the issue divides opinion. Interestingly, this is the first time that all respondents' comments are anonymous.
Polled on a range of questions, workers in local authorities, schools, health care and central government show that although many are aware of the problems, they do not agree on how to solve them.
For a start, are most staff aware of their organisation's race equality scheme? Overall, 76% say yes.
But what of the rest? 'Make more staff aware of race equality schemes within public bodies and ensure line managers are aware of how best to nip problems in the bud,' said one respondent from local government.
Councils and central government scored strongly in this area, with around 90% of staff being aware of their organisation's policies.
However, longstanding efforts to combat racism, such as the use of positive discrimination or quotas, received little support. Over 60% of respondents said they were against the use of quotas to increase the proportion of ethnic minority employees.
Just 21% favoured them. Only 5% of those in education and 6% in local authorities and health care 'agreed strongly' with this proposition. 'Stop trying to have a workforce divided into the same ethnic percentage as the tenants in the district. Employment should be based on talent, not quotas,' said a respondent.
One, though, said the policy of positive discrimination should be better targeted, with management being the focus. 'Address the amount of ethnic minorities at the higher levels. In the same way your sex can hold you back, so can being part of an ethnic minority. Even it all out,' said another respondent.
One 'solution' that has been put forward in recent years, the funding of community projects, had recently been criticised by senior government adviser Ted Cantle as doing the reverse of what is intended. He said that it can encourage segregation and lead to greater racial tension. In total, 34% agreed with this while 37% disagreed.
'The public sector is meant to be an example via best practice,' said one respondent. 'We must get involved with funding more community projects at all ages, in particular young school groups.' Another said: 'Involve the communities in policy. Get everyone involved. Bring everyone together.'
One way forward that has gained some approval is the government's proposal to create a single equality commission by merging the existing bodies covering race, gender and disability. Just over 65% agreed with this idea. Only 16% disagreed, with 3% 'disagreeing strongly'.
But despite all the soul-searching, one respondent was bullish: 'Public sector bodies already do more than enough to counter racial discrimination, particularly in comparison with private sector organisations.'
PFjun2002
