News
The future of the EHRC
28 March 2011
The Government has published proposals to reform the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.The EHRC survived the “bonfire of the quangos” but it was widely expected that it would be substantially reformed by the Government.
Proposals have now been published in a consultation document, which can be downloaded from the GEO website here.
The Government’s view is that there is a clear need for an independent equality regulator and national human rights institution, but that the EHRC’s performance has been weak, in part because its remit has been too broad.
It plans to refocus the EHRC on areas where only it can add value, to increase its accountability to its principal stakeholders and to improve its effectiveness and value for money. Some of the changes envisaged would require changes to the EHRC’s statutory framework, the Equality Act 2006.
In refocusing the EHRC on its core regulatory functions the Government plans that two functions it regards as ineffective – the helpline and the grants programme – should cease to be funded from 31 March 2012, and it will consider how and by whom alternatives should in future be provided.
The result of all the changes proposed by the Government will be a reduction in the staff complement of the EHRC to 200 ovwer the Spending Review period.
The Commission’s reaction to the announcement can be found here