§ Lord Dholakiaasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate collects ethnic monitoring information about the research teams to whom it awards contracts. [HL3208]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS) does not collect ethnic monitoring information on the external organisations awarded research contracts. It does comply with Schedule 1A to the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, although the duties under this schedule cannot be passed to third parties.
143WAWe have also conducted a review of the RDS business plan in 2002 with an external academic peer group to review how the planning processes and scope address equality issues.
§ Lord Dholakiaasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Home Office meets its obligations under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, which covers contracts with suppliers. [HL3209]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Home Office recognises that integrating race equality into the procurement process can improve the quality of Home Office services, making them more appropriate and more responsive to the needs of different communities.
Procurement guidance has been issued explaining how to take account of race equality and ethnic minority issues in public procurement. To comply with the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and its duty to promote race equality, the department's procurement policies and practices promote equality of opportunity and good race relations. These policies and practices are regularly reviewed to check that they are in compliance with the aims of the Act.
§ Lord Dholakiaasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate is taking to develop and support a diverse group of researchers who can be invited to submit research tenders, and what is being done to provide support for potential bidders in complying with procurement requirements. [HL3210]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS) conducts a wide range of research and analysis in support of Home Office delivery including work undertaken through external contracts. The RDS website allows interested parties the opportunity to submit an expression of interest in research areas. This information is then entered into an RDS database and used when considering who to send an invitation to tender. RDS is implementing a further initiative to place more details of research programmes on the website.
To develop and support a diverse group of researchers, RDS requests expressions of interest on a project basis; actively identifies potential new contractors through searches of university websites; is represented at significant public seminars and conferences and organises meetings itself to see the work of researchers outside the confines of the client-contractor context. The external peer review programme enables a wide group of researchers to be aware of RDS work. In addition, RDS staff membership of professional societies and networks enables RDS work to be visible to a wider group of potential contractors.
The Home Office provides support for potential bidders by ensuring that invitations to tender contain full details of instructions as to how to tender and the information required, as well as the Home Office 144WA standard terms and conditions of contract. A suppliers' guide is available on the Home Office website. The guide acts as a signpost for potential bidders and helps to identify opportunities, explaining how to bid for work and providing contact points for all the Home Office procurement units.
§ Lord Dholakiaasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is the policy of the Home Office to ensure that procurement requirements are assessed for their impact under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. [HL3211]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Home Office is committed to mainstreaming race equality into its policies and services. The Home Office race equality scheme "requires members of the core Home Office to assess and consult wherever practicable, on the potential impact of policies on different communities".
This includes procurement requirements and is reflected in the associate race equality schemes. The scheme requires the Home Office to consider, for example, "whether contracts should be used to specify actions that contractors should take to ensure the Home Office does not fail to meet its obligations".
The Home Office race equality scheme is under review. The reference to procurement processes will be maintained in the new scheme.
§ Lord Dholakiaasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate will publish a list of those organisations that have been awarded Home Office research contracts over the past three years. [HL3212]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe available information on the organisations awarded research contracts with the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate over the past three years will be placed in the Library.
§ Lord Dholakiaasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many researchers working for the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate who received contracts had previously been Home Office employees in the 24 months before the contract was awarded. [HL3213]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe available records show that Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate has given research contracts to two individuals who had previously been employed by the Home Office within 24 months of their departure.