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| MPs call for inquiry into Treasury's refusal to reveal spending analysis MPs call for inquiry into Treasury's refusal to reveal spending analysis | |
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| A committee of MPs has called for an independent inquiry into why the government has not revealed an analysis of how its spending plans have affected women, minorities and disabled people. | A committee of MPs has called for an independent inquiry into why the government has not revealed an analysis of how its spending plans have affected women, minorities and disabled people. |
| The women and equalities select committee said the Treasury, then headed by former chancellor George Osborne, had refused to give evidence on how the equalities impact analysis was conducted for the 2015 spending review. | The women and equalities select committee said the Treasury, then headed by former chancellor George Osborne, had refused to give evidence on how the equalities impact analysis was conducted for the 2015 spending review. |
| Requests for copies of detailed departmental assessments from the time, along with the Treasury’s own review, were then rejected once Philip Hammond took over the role in the summer, members said. | Requests for copies of detailed departmental assessments from the time, along with the Treasury’s own review, were then rejected once Philip Hammond took over the role in the summer, members said. |
| In a report published on Friday, the committee said it was disappointed. “In the absence of this information and any ministerial evidence, we are unable to form a view of how robust the equalities analysis was or how far the Treasury and the government complied with the public sector equality duty in relation to the 2015 spending review,” the report said. | In a report published on Friday, the committee said it was disappointed. “In the absence of this information and any ministerial evidence, we are unable to form a view of how robust the equalities analysis was or how far the Treasury and the government complied with the public sector equality duty in relation to the 2015 spending review,” the report said. |
| “The lack of information provided to us demonstrates a concerning lack of transparency. The promotion of transparency is a central aim of the public sector equality duty requirements, but the government’s current position does not engender confidence that these requirements are being complied with. | “The lack of information provided to us demonstrates a concerning lack of transparency. The promotion of transparency is a central aim of the public sector equality duty requirements, but the government’s current position does not engender confidence that these requirements are being complied with. |
| “In order to maintain public confidence that the public sector equality duty is being fulfilled, we recommend that the Treasury be independently evaluated on how robustly it has complied with that duty in the 2015 spending review process, and on how it can improve its equalities analysis.” | “In order to maintain public confidence that the public sector equality duty is being fulfilled, we recommend that the Treasury be independently evaluated on how robustly it has complied with that duty in the 2015 spending review process, and on how it can improve its equalities analysis.” |
| Osborne’s 2015 autumn statement outlined deep cuts to public services, including police, fire and rescue, and the NHS. However, some of the deepest cuts were to local councils, after Osborne announced he would axe their central government grant. | Osborne’s 2015 autumn statement outlined deep cuts to public services, including police, fire and rescue, and the NHS. However, some of the deepest cuts were to local councils, after Osborne announced he would axe their central government grant. |
| The cuts come at a time when councils have become increasingly responsible for funding crucial services, as part of the government’s devolution agenda. | The cuts come at a time when councils have become increasingly responsible for funding crucial services, as part of the government’s devolution agenda. |
| Gary Porter, chairman of the Local Government Association, said at the time that the decision was a tragic missed opportunity to protect the services “that bind communities together, improve people’s quality of life and protect the most vulnerable”. | Gary Porter, chairman of the Local Government Association, said at the time that the decision was a tragic missed opportunity to protect the services “that bind communities together, improve people’s quality of life and protect the most vulnerable”. |
| On Friday, the Conservative MP Maria Miller, who chairs the equalities committee, said: “Without the information we have asked for or ministerial evidence it’s not been possible to form a view of the government’s work under the public sector equality duty. | On Friday, the Conservative MP Maria Miller, who chairs the equalities committee, said: “Without the information we have asked for or ministerial evidence it’s not been possible to form a view of the government’s work under the public sector equality duty. |
| “Promotion of transparency is a central aim of the public sector equality duty requirements. The government’s current position means the evidence on compliance is incomplete.” | “Promotion of transparency is a central aim of the public sector equality duty requirements. The government’s current position means the evidence on compliance is incomplete.” |