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Equality commissioners defend record after Maria Miller's attack on their work Equality commissioners defend record after Maria Miller's attack on their work
(35 minutes later)
Britain's equality commissioners have attacked claims by culture secretary Maria Miller that she has been compelled to remake the statutory body to deal with chronic underperformance. The equalities and rights commission has attacked claims by culture secretary Maria Miller that she has been compelled to remake the statutory body to deal with chronic underperformance.
In a letter to the Guardian last week, Miller said the Equalities and Human Rights Commission "has struggled to deliver across its remit or inspire confidence in its governance, expertise or ability to deliver high-quality work at good value for the taxpayer. The noble aims with which it was created became lost in the mire." In a letter to the Guardian last week, Miller said the commission "has struggled to deliver across its remit or inspire confidence in its governance, expertise or ability to deliver high-quality work at good value for the taxpayer. The noble aims with which it was created became lost in the mire".
But aggrieved commissioners led by the interim chair, Margaret Prosser, hit back. "Maria Miller is new to the role of secretary of state for equalities and we can only assume she has been badly briefed," said Prosser's reply, written on behalf of the board. But aggrieved commissioners have hit back. "Maria Miller is new to the role of secretary of state for equalities and we can only assume she has been badly briefed," wrote the interim chair, Margaret Prosser, on behalf of the board.
"It is inaccurate to say the commission has struggled to deliver on its remit. Our record speaks for itself, including groundbreaking legal cases, inquiries exposing exploitation of migrant workers in the meat-packing industry, harassment of disabled people, discrimination in home care and the finance industry, and equality – deficiencies in the Treasury's 2010 spending review." "It is inaccurate to say the commission has struggled to deliver on its remit. Our record speaks for itself, including groundbreaking legal cases, inquiries exposing exploitation of migrant workers in the meat-packing industry, harassment of disabled people, discrimination in home care and the finance industry, and equality deficiencies in the Treasury's 2010 spending review."
The commissioners, some of whom were appointed as part of ministerial reforms after the commission's shaky start, say they and the employees have worked hard and effectively against a backdrop of demands from government for significant budget cuts. The commissioners, some of whom were appointed as part of ministerial reforms after the commission's shaky start, said they and their staff have worked hard and effectively despite demands from government for significant budget cuts.
"Staff, despite pervading job insecurity in the last few years, have produced excellent work but our task has not been made easier by delay and dither within government.""Staff, despite pervading job insecurity in the last few years, have produced excellent work but our task has not been made easier by delay and dither within government."
The commissioners also hit out at the way changes are being implemented. The Guardian revealed that at least three long-standing and highly praised commissioners were invited to re-apply for their positions by the government, only to be rejected without benefit of an interview.The commissioners also hit out at the way changes are being implemented. The Guardian revealed that at least three long-standing and highly praised commissioners were invited to re-apply for their positions by the government, only to be rejected without benefit of an interview.
"No one who reapplied did so with a sense of entitlement," the commissioners say. "But those who did reapply deserved more than an automated email from the headhunter telling them they had not been shortlisted." "No one who reapplied did so with a sense of entitlement," the commissioners said. "But those who did reapply deserved more than an automated email from the headhunter telling them they had not been shortlisted."
The commissioners also speak up for employees likely to fall victim to budget cuts. "Many of the commission's staff will be looking for alternative employment in the not too distant future. The secretary of state's comments will hardly be helpful to those seeking approval from new employers. We appeal to Maria Miller to take more informed advice before making any further comments on the EHRC." The commissioners also spoke up for employees likely to fall victim to budget cuts. "Many of the commission's staff will be looking for alternative employment in the not-too-distant future. The secretary of state's comments will hardly be helpful to those seeking approval from new employers. We appeal to Maria Miller to take more informed advice before making any further comments on the EHRC."
The letter raises the temperature just as interviews are being conducted for those who will sit on the new streamlined board. Among those represented are commissioners likely to serve on the reformed board under its new chair Lady O'Neill.The letter raises the temperature just as interviews are being conducted for those who will sit on the new streamlined board. Among those represented are commissioners likely to serve on the reformed board under its new chair Lady O'Neill.
The government has indicated that it will lean more heavily towards those with significant business and financial experience, prompting fears that it seeks a equalities regulator disinclined to ruffle feathers.The government has indicated that it will lean more heavily towards those with significant business and financial experience, prompting fears that it seeks a equalities regulator disinclined to ruffle feathers.