§ Ms Buck:To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans his Department has to include a measure of the effect of ethnicity in indices of deprivation; and what assessment he has made of relevant methodologies. [143575]
§ Yvette Cooper:There is no direct measure of black and minority ethnic concentrations proposed for inclusion in the revised Indices of Deprivation 2000 because not all BMEs are deprived.
However the indicators proposed for inclusion in the revised Index do recognise the problems encountered by black and minority ethnic communities. For example, proposed housing indicators on homelessness, overcrowding and social and private housing in poor condition are all important issues for deprived BME communities. In terms of the Education, Skills and Training domain, indicators on school performance at Key Stages 2, 3 and 4 will identify areas where there are large numbers of children suffering educational deprivation. Similarly the indicator adult educational deprivation will be picked up through the proposed indicator on adults with 'no' or 'low' qualifications.
§ Ms Buck:To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effect of a person's ethnicity on their access to public services within the responsibilities of his Department. [143578]
§ Yvette Cooper:The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published a Race Equality Scheme in May 2003. The scheme will monitor and assess policies and functions supporting public services, for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible. The Race Equality Scheme is published on our website, and is in the process of being updated. The revised published document will be available in the Library of the House in due course.
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