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UK must act against race inequality, Theresa May says UK must act against race inequality, Theresa May says
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May has challenged public services over how they treat people of different races.Theresa May has challenged public services over how they treat people of different races.
The prime minister says institutions must "explain or change" any variations, as she released data on a new government website.The prime minister says institutions must "explain or change" any variations, as she released data on a new government website.
It shows unemployment for black, Asian and minority ethnic people at nearly double that of white Britons, and disparity in who owns their own home.It shows unemployment for black, Asian and minority ethnic people at nearly double that of white Britons, and disparity in who owns their own home.
Critics say publishing the data is not enough, and that solutions are needed.Critics say publishing the data is not enough, and that solutions are needed.
The government says the figures included in data from across departments suggest:The government says the figures included in data from across departments suggest:
It also shows:It also shows:
"People who have lived with discrimination don't need a government audit to make them aware of the scale of the challenge," Mrs May said."People who have lived with discrimination don't need a government audit to make them aware of the scale of the challenge," Mrs May said.
"This audit means that for society as a whole - for government, for our public services - there is nowhere to hide.""This audit means that for society as a whole - for government, for our public services - there is nowhere to hide."
Among those contacting the BBC, Shaneil, from Moss Side, Manchester, told the BBC: "It shouldn't matter where you come from or your race. You should be equal, you should be able to do anything you want to do.Among those contacting the BBC, Shaneil, from Moss Side, Manchester, told the BBC: "It shouldn't matter where you come from or your race. You should be equal, you should be able to do anything you want to do.
"We need more different ethnicities to be in power as well.""We need more different ethnicities to be in power as well."
Joseph G Jones, of the Gypsy Council, said the government was failing its Romani and Traveller communities with "multi-discrimination" across people's lifetimes.Joseph G Jones, of the Gypsy Council, said the government was failing its Romani and Traveller communities with "multi-discrimination" across people's lifetimes.
"The younger generations shouldn't have to put up with endemic ongoing discrimination - for the time being there is little light at the end of the tunnel," he said."The younger generations shouldn't have to put up with endemic ongoing discrimination - for the time being there is little light at the end of the tunnel," he said.
And Victoria Stevens, a Ukrainian who has lived in the UK for 18 years told the BBC she had no problem in applying for jobs, as she had a mechanical engineering degree, plenty of work experience, and her late husband's English surname.And Victoria Stevens, a Ukrainian who has lived in the UK for 18 years told the BBC she had no problem in applying for jobs, as she had a mechanical engineering degree, plenty of work experience, and her late husband's English surname.
But she added: "However, when it came to career progression, I found that a British candidate would get a promotion above me, every time."But she added: "However, when it came to career progression, I found that a British candidate would get a promotion above me, every time."
Almost all the data released on 'Ethnicity Facts and Figures' is already publicly available and no new data was commissioned for the audit.Almost all the data released on 'Ethnicity Facts and Figures' is already publicly available and no new data was commissioned for the audit.
The site aims to be user-friendly, highlighting disparities between ethnic groups, some by age or gender, location or income, BBC home editor Mark Easton says. Analysis: By BBC home editor Mark Easton
But it does not attempt to explain why these differences exist. This audit is a giant nudge to change behaviour on issues of race inequality. The odd thing is that the project is not a government trying to nudge the people. It is a government trying to nudge itself.
'Grievance culture' risk The prime minister has dedicated her premiership to fighting burning injustices and says she is determined to shine a light on disparities between different racial groups in the UK on a range of areas - health, education, job prospects, housing and so on.
But critics from ethnic minority backgrounds, including former deputy London mayor Munira Mirza, in a letter to The Times, said the "crude and tendentious" approach of comparing the data in the website risked "promoting a grievance culture and policies that harm the communities they aspire to help". A focus on the many and often troubling differences is - of course - no bad thing, but people might well wonder why we need a public website to get Whitehall departments to take an interest.
And given that ministers have known about these "troubling" and "shocking" disparities for years or even decades, why does it take a prime ministerial nudge to get them to take action?
Read more from Mark
Critics from ethnic minority backgrounds, including former deputy London mayor Munira Mirza, in a letter to The Times, said the "crude and tendentious" approach of comparing the data in the website risked "promoting a grievance culture and policies that harm the communities they aspire to help".
They said prejudice had declined "markedly" and while injustice must be challenged, there were often many underlying factors to explain differences.They said prejudice had declined "markedly" and while injustice must be challenged, there were often many underlying factors to explain differences.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid denied it would drive a grievance culture but said it would help identify disparities.Communities Secretary Sajid Javid denied it would drive a grievance culture but said it would help identify disparities.
"There are hundreds of thousands of British Pakistani women and Bangladeshi women who don't speak proper English, who don't speak English at all," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme."There are hundreds of thousands of British Pakistani women and Bangladeshi women who don't speak proper English, who don't speak English at all," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"That might be through choice in some cases, it might be a cultural issue. But that is a big issue because that does then hold those women back from the employment market and other opportunities", he said. "That might be through choice in some cases, it might be a cultural issue. But that is a big issue because that does then hold those women back from the employment market and other opportunities."
Labour's Dawn Butler said government cuts to services had disproportionately affected women, ethnic minorities, disabled and older people.Labour's Dawn Butler said government cuts to services had disproportionately affected women, ethnic minorities, disabled and older people.
The report was not enough and solutions were needed, she added.The report was not enough and solutions were needed, she added.
Help 'hotspots' Although the audit does not focus on government policies, Mrs May is launching a number of measures to combat the differences discovered.
Although the audit does focus on government policies, Mrs May is launching a number of measures to combat the differences discovered.
They include Department for Work and Pensions "hotspots" to help people from ethnic minorities get jobs, and traineeships for 16-24 year-olds.They include Department for Work and Pensions "hotspots" to help people from ethnic minorities get jobs, and traineeships for 16-24 year-olds.
Have you ever felt your race has affected your chances in education, the criminal justice system or other public services? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story.Have you ever felt your race has affected your chances in education, the criminal justice system or other public services? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
Or use the form belowOr use the form below