— The state of equality and human rights 2018 — The state of equality and human rights 2018 Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 12 of the Equality Act 2006 as amended by the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 June 2019 Equality and Human Rights Commission 2019 The text of this document (this excludes, where present, the Royal Arms and all departmental or agency logos) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium provided that it is reproduced accurately and not in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as Equality and Human Rights Commission copyright and the document title specified. Where third party material has been identified, permission from the respective copyright holder must be sought. Any enquiries related to this publication should be sent to us at [email protected] This publication is available at www.gov.uk/official-documents ISBN 978-1-5286-1280-7 CCS0419112082 06/19 Printed on paper containing 75% recycled fibre content minimum Printed in the UK by APS Group on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Is Britain Fairer? Contents Contents Foreword 4 4 Living standards 59 4.1 Introduction 61 Executive summary 6 4.2 Key policy and legal developments 61 1 Introduction 12 4.3 Housing 69 1.1 How we reviewed the evidence 13 4.4 Poverty 74 1.2 Context 14 4.5 Social care 80 1.3 Next steps 15 4.6 Conclusion 87 2 Education 16 5 Health 88 2.1 Introduction 18 5.1 Introduction 91 2.2 Key policy and legal developments 18 5.2 Key policy and legal developments 91 2.3 Educational attainment of 5.3 Access to health 96 children and young people 24 5.4 Health outcomes 102 2.4 School exclusions, bullying and NEET 30 5.5 Mental health 108 2.5 Higher education and 5.6 Conclusion 119 lifelong learning 34 2.6 Conclusion 36 3 Work 37 3.1 Introduction 39 3.2 Key policy and legal developments 40 3.3 Employment 45 3.4 Earnings 52 3.5 Occupational segregation 55 3.6 Conclusion 58 2 www.equalityhumanrights.com/britain-fairer Is Britain Fairer? Contents 6 Justice and personal security 120 9 Recommendations for action 200 6.1 Introduction 122 10 References 211 6.2 Key policy and legal developments 122 A Appendix: Methodology 272 6.3 Criminal and civil justice: public confidence and access to justice 130 A.1 Introduction 273 6.4 Violence and abuse: hate crimes, A.2 Our approach: the Measurement homicides, and sexual and Framework 273 domestic abuse 134 A.3 Evidence gathering and analysis 274 6.5 Conditions of detention 143 A.4 The limitations of our approach 275 6.6 Conclusion 153 Contacts 277 7 Participation 154 7.1 Introduction 156 7.2 Political and civic participation and representation 156 7.3 Access to services 167 7.4 Privacy and surveillance 178 7.5 Social and community cohesion 183 7.6 Conclusion 190 8 Conclusion 192 www.equalityhumanrights.com/britain-fairer 3 Is Britain Fairer? Foreword Foreword from our Chair It is the most comprehensive survey of how England, Scotland and Wales are performing in these areas, and the evidence contained here should help set the agenda for the Britain of the future. Is Britain fairer? We now have 10 years of data to enable us to answer that question, and measure how far Britain has come in creating a fair and equal society for all. This report makes it clear that as a nation we face a defining moment: across many areas of life there are David Isaac CBE still too many who are losing out and who feel Chair forgotten or left behind. Unless we take action, the disadvantages that many people face risk becoming entrenched for generations to come. ‘Is Britain Fairer? 2018’ is our It is important to note that there have been improvements to celebrate. Westminster and state-of-the-nation report on devolved governments have pursued policies equality and human rights. As to improve attendance at university and more required of us by Parliament, this children are meeting the required standards review covers progress in relation at school. to outcomes in education, health, There are more women in higher pay occupations and on company boards, and living standards, justice and the gender pay gap has decreased. The security, work and participation referendums and elections since 2015 meant more people took part in political activities, in politics and public life. and we have seen an increase in the diversity of Parliament. 4 www.equalityhumanrights.com/britain-fairer Is Britain Fairer? Foreword This comes hand in hand with an obligation not to ignore the growing evidence that for some people, and in some areas of life, We have a vital part to play in opportunities have gone backwards. making Britain fairer – and we are Changes to the welfare system since 2010 asking everyone who cares about the have made life harder for those in poverty, and this disproportionately affects a large future of our nation to work with us number of disabled people, women, and to act on our recommendations to people from ethnic minorities. Child poverty improve outcomes and homelessness have also continued to rise. Since our last review in 2015, access to justice has deteriorated. Contributing factors have included cuts to legal aid and the disastrous The referendum and subsequent debates about impact of employment tribunal fees on people’s our future relationship with Europe have left ability to take on employers who have flouted many people feeling uncertain. This has resulted the law. Our rights are undermined if there is no in a change in our political landscape and has means of redressing them in our justice system. created divisions that we have not seen for decades. As we approach Brexit, the UK Spikes in hate crime and worrying levels of Government should make a very clear statement sexual violence and domestic abuse also give that it will continue to safeguard our rights and cause for concern in relation to the safety of our quickly introduce legislation to plug the gaps left citizens in their personal lives and on the streets. by the decision to remove the protections offered Westminster and devolved governments have by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. said that they wish to tackle the injustices in our As we leave the EU at the end of March 2019, society, and that everyone should have a our review provides an important baseline from chance to succeed, whatever their background. which we can measure the impact of Brexit on Here we identify significant challenges in the equality and human rights. The questions posed delivery of these aspirations. by ‘Is Britain Fairer?’ are based on deep-rooted It is too easy to identify problems. It is our British values of open-mindedness, fairness, responsibility to be part of the solution. To that and respect for people’s dignity. The Brexit end, we make a series of recommendations conversation is a major opportunity to discuss based on our findings. We believe that some of the type of country we all want Britain to be. these are relatively straightforward. For instance, We are committed to standing up for justice, since poverty is such an important contributor freedom and compassion; important principles, for many of the inequalities people experience, which I believe will always define our country. we believe that the UK and Welsh Governments We have a vital part to play in making Britain should follow Scotland’s lead and introduce the fairer – and we are asking everyone who cares socio-economic duty in the Equality Act to about the future of our nation to work with us ensure public bodies work together to reduce to act on our recommendations to improve this major area of disadvantage. outcomes. In our changing world, society will thrive if everyone has a fair chance in life. www.equalityhumanrights.com/britain-fairer 5 Is Britain Fairer? Executive summary Executive summary Our report ‘Is Britain Fairer? 2018’ is the most comprehensive review of how we, as a nation, are performing on equality and human rights. Looking across all areas of life, including education, work, living standards, health, justice and security, and participation in society, it provides a complete picture of people’s life chances in Britain today. 6 www.equalityhumanrights.com/britain-fairer Is Britain Fairer? Executive summary And while there has been some progress ‘Is Britain Fairer? 2018’ also provides us with a – such as improvements in educational robust evidence base to inform our own priorities attainment, involvement in politics and for the next three years, to be set out in our new equality in the workplace – there are still Strategic Plan. We will work with governments, regulators, parliamentarians, public and private serious challenges that must be addressed sector employers and non-governmental in respect of access to justice, hate crime organisations to press for concerted action to and sexual harassment. implement our recommendations, and use our own unique powers to drive change where we Child poverty has increased and the inequalities can. In doing so, we will have a sharp focus on resulting from socio-economic disadvantage the most pressing issues, bringing the full range are seriously affecting many people’s lives. of our powers to bear in order to drive progress Women are still not benefitting from equality in towards a more equal Britain before we report practice and there are increasingly large gaps again. We want everyone to play their role so that, between the experiences and outcomes of when we next ask the question ‘is Britain fairer?’ disabled people and some ethnic minorities in 2021, things have improved significantly.