§ Keith VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what(a) advice and (b) support he receives in ensuring that policies he implements in regard to ethnic minorities reach their target. [156125]
§ Mr. BrowneThe policy initiatives we implement are generally subject to performance monitoring processes. The data that we gather allows month by month monitoring of performance against targets if these have been set. We also monitor our own services to ensure that ethnic minority customers receive equal treatment and benefit equally from our provision.
The Department for Work and Pensions leads on the work of the Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force, created in response to the recommendations made by the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit. The Task Force comprises Ministers from Departments responsible for implementing the recommendations—DWP, DTI, DfES, Home Office and ODPM—as well as representatives from external stakeholders such as the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress. The Task Force is an important body, offering advice and helping to steer our policies.
We realise that partnership—at national, regional and local levels—is fundamental to the success of our diversity policies. As such, we are in a constant state of engagement with our partners, stakeholders and relevant pressure groups, seeking advice on current and future initiatives. As part of this we are in the process of setting up a stakeholder group, the chair of which will become a member of the Task Force itself.