DFID's Race Equality Scheme - Addendum

Review of DFID functions, policies and proposed policies

The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 (RR (A) A) placed a legal obligation on public authorities, including DFID, to publish a Race Equality Scheme by 31 May 2002. There is also a requirement to list in that Scheme those of its functions, policies or proposed policies that DFID assess as relevant to the General Duty under the Act to: -

• eliminate unlawful racial discrimination and
• promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups.

The RR (A) A requires us to review, at least every three years, and republish that part of our original Scheme (Section 15) in which we have assessed our functions and policies for relevance to the General Duty. DFID's Diversity Team, which is embedded in DFID's Corporate HR Department, carried out the review in April and May 2005. This included seeking input from DFID staff at home and overseas. An announcement and invitation was posted on DFID's website allowing the UK public to participate. We also consulted with other bodies with similar overseas dimensions to their functions and policies.

Much of DFID's work involves the implementation of the UK's overseas development policy and may only have a very indirect and limited impact, if any, on members of the UK public. Apart from the more obvious employment responsibilities, the three areas in DFID where the RR (A) A may have relevance and which may have the potential to impact in the UK, are: -

• Procurement Group
• Information and Civil Society Department
• Overseas Pensions Department

We have assessed these as only of low relevance.

The results of this reassessment are the same as in the original 2002 Scheme and an interim review in 2003.

Although there was no legal requirement to review and revise the whole Race Equality Scheme by 31 May 2005 we have nevertheless taken the opportunity to do so. However, before publishing the revised Scheme we are awaiting clarification from The Commission for Racial Equality on some recent feedback on our original 2002 Scheme; in particular their view that the Act may have a wider impact on more of our overseas work. We believe that UK Law, including the RR (A) A, is not applicable overseas although UK overseas development policy operates within UK Law. However, DFID would aim to apply the spirit if not the letter of the RR (A) A to all of its work, including that undertaken overseas.

The promotion of race relations both at home and overseas in its employment and aid policies is a major plank in DFID's wider raft of diversity policy.

31 May 2005