Will the Minister provide an update on the publication of Welsh public sector equality duties as recommended by the Fifth Senedd's Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee in its 'Into sharp relief: inequality and the pandemic' inquiry?
A review of the Welsh Specific Equality Duties (WSED) started in 2019. In September 2020, the Welsh Government’s response to the Committee advised that the review had been temporarily halted because of Covid. The duration of the pandemic meant that resources of both the Welsh Government and external stakeholders were diverted for longer than had been initially hoped.
I am pleased to confirm the review has re-commenced, and an external reference group has been established to oversee this work. This group comprises advisors from academia, the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Wales office, members representing bodies which are subject to the duties and others with relevant knowledge and experience.
The review will include consideration of WSED reporting arrangements, with a view to making data more readily available, to facilitate wider knowledge and understanding of how Welsh bodies are fulfilling their duties in this area, and what progress is being made on equality in Wales overall.
Stakeholder engagement will be a priority throughout, leading to formal consultation on any proposed changes to the WSED. This reflects the commitment given in the Welsh Government response to the Strengthening and Advancing Equality and Human Rights in Wales research report, which makes clear that the review is an integral part of our wider work in this area.