§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the use of funding allocated to racial equality services by the Commission for Racial Equality in Scotland is monitored for effectiveness. [74977]
§ Beverley HughesThe production of work programmes, work programme reviews and Core Standards assessments is the key tool in determining the effectiveness of the service being delivered by the Scottish Racial Equality Services (RECs).
During the course of the year the Scottish RECs submit reviews on a six monthly basis to the Scotland Committee of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) to identify progress against their work plans and end of year targets.
§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of how the money allocated to racial equality services by the Commission for Racial Equality in Scotland has been spent in each of the last five years. [74976]
§ Beverley HughesThe Work Programmes submitted by Racial Equality Councils (RECs) focus on four programme areas—race specific casework, policy development, public education and awareness, and community development—and the activity within each area is tailored to local circumstances as determined by the RECs and their management boards.
A breakdown of expenditure by programme area is not available.
The Commission for Racial Equality's funding for RECs is currently in the form of grant aid to meet the salary costs of Race Equality Officers and/or Directors of RECs and is not programme specific.
§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms have been put in place by the Commission for Racial Equality in Scotland to 343W ensure that all CRE funded providers of racial equality services have achieved the quality standards that are required of local racial equality councils. [74975]
§ Beverley HughesIn 1999, The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) introduced Core Standards, a quality assurance framework for all funded Racial Equality Councils (RECs). To help RECs achieve the quality standard, extensive guidance and self-assessment policies were produced, and a corporate training programme developed for the RECs.
A CRE/REC Joint Consultative Forum was established to provide a mechanism for CRE officers and representatives of RECs from across Britain to meet regularly and share ideas and views on the development and implementation of the Core Standards programme.
In addition, seminars are held to enable RECs to review progress, focus on the implementation of the standards and explore ways to meet their organisational development needs.