Equality and Public Policy

Paul Chaney

Description

Equality of opportunity is a contested concept. It evokes strong emotions from proponents and opponents alike. Enduring issues of inequality and discrimination mean that it remains at the forefront of political priorities in the twenty-first century. Traditional analyses tend to focus on developments at the level of the unitary state or European Union. In contrast, this book underlines the salience of multi-level governance and offers the first detailed comparative analysis of contemporary efforts to promote equality of opportunity in the wake of constitutional reform in the UK. It presents a summary of social theory on equalities in relation to gender, and a full range of social groups and identities - such as disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation and age. It outlines the contemporary evidence base relating to patterns and processes of inequality in the 'devolved' nations. A 'governance perspective' is also advanced; one that details how constitutional law establishing the devolved legislatures contains equality clauses that enable and empower government to promote equality in public policy and law. Analysis reveals the development of distinctive regulatory structures and equalities policy lobbies in each territory. Overall, this volume charts the development of divergent legal rights and public policy on the promotion of equality in the wake of constitutional reform in the UK. Notwithstanding ongoing challenges, it is argued that the move to quasi-federalism is significant for it marks a shift from the predominant, centralised administration of social policy witnessed throughout the twentieth century, to divergent approaches designed to address contrasting socio-economic patterns and processes in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Chapter One: Introduction: Equalities and Public Policy Chapter Two: Theoretical Perspectives on Promoting Equality Chapter Three: Exploring Inequality and Discrimination in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland Chapter Four: Promoting Equality: A Governance Perspective Chapter Five: The Equalities 'Infrastructure' in the Devolved State Chapter Six: Legislating for Equality in a Quasi-Federal UK Chapter Seven: Analysing the Devolved Governments' Public Policy Approaches to the Promotion of Equality Chapter Eight: Lobbying and Electoral Competition on Equality Matters in the Devolved Polity Chapter Nine: Conclusions: Equalities and Public Policy

Sujets

• Political Science
• Reino Unido
• Equality
• Policy
• Devolution
• United Kingdom
• Impact
• Wales
• UK
• Public

Informations

• Publié par: University of Wales Press
• Date de parution: 31 janvier 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9780708323274
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 20 Mo

Extrait

EQUALITY AND PUBLIC POLICY

Gender Studies in Wales Astudiaethau Rhywedd yng Nghymru

Series Editors Jane Aaron, University of Glamorgan Brec’hed Piette, Bangor University Sian Rhiannon Williams, University of Wales Institute Cardiff

Series Advisory Board Deirdre Beddoe, Emeritus Professor Mihangel Morgan, Aberystwyth University Teresa Rees, Cardiff University

The aim of this series is to fill a current gap in knowledge. As a number of historians, sociologists and literary critics have for some time been pointing out, there is a dearth of published research on the character- istics and effects of gender difference in Wales, both as it affected lives in the past and as it continues to shape present-day experience. Socially constructed concepts of masculine and feminine difference influence every aspect of individuals’ lives; experiences in employment, in education, in culture and politics, as well as in personal relationships, are all shaped by them. Ethnic identities are also gendered; a country’s history affects its concepts of gender difference so that what is seen as appropriately ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’ varies within different cultures. What is needed in the Welsh context is more detailed research on the ways in which gender difference has operated and continues to operate within Welsh societies. Accordingly, this interdisciplinary and bilingual series of volumes on Gender Studies in Wales, authored by academics who are leaders in their particular fields of study, is designed to explore the diverse aspects of male and female identities in Wales, past and present. The series is bilingual, in the sense that some of its intended volumes will be in Welsh and some in English.

EQUALITY AND PUBLIC POLICY

EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF DEVOLUTION IN THE UK

Paul Chaney

CARDIFF UNIVERSITY OF WALES PRESS 2011

© Paul Chaney, 2011

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to The University of Wales Press, 10 Columbus Walk, Brigantine Place, Cardiff, CF10 4UP.

www.uwp.co.uk

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978-0-7083-2326-7 e-ISBN 978-0-7083-2327-4

The right of Paul Chaney to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77, 78 and 79 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Printed in Wales by Dinefwr Press, Llandybïe

Er cof am K. B. Sherwood

Acknowledgements

This volume draws upon the findings of three Economic and Social 1 Research Council funded projects, as well as a study funded by the 2 University of Wales. The work is also based on research conducted in relation to projects sponsored by the (former) Equal Opportunities Commission, the Disability Rights Commission and the Commission 3 for Racial Equality, and the National Assembly for Wales, as well as

1  Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded project: ‘Social Capital and the Participation of Marginalized Groups in Government’, award number: R000239410, 09/2001 to 01/2004. Co-investigator. Project led by Professor Ralph Fevre. ESRC funded project: ‘Gender and Constitutional Change’ (L219252023), part of the ESRC Devolution and Constitutional Change Programme. 1999–2004. Co-investigator. Project led by Dr Fiona Mackay and Professor Alice Brown. ESRC funded project: ‘The Devolution Monitoring Programme’, in conjunction with the UK Government Department of Constitutional Affairs. 2005–8. Co- investigator (with professors Richard Wyn Jones and Roger Scully in respect of the Welsh devolution reports). Grant holders, Professor Robert Hazell and Akash Paun at the Constitution Unit, University College London. Initial funding No. L219252016; subsequent funding by the Economic and Social Research Council; the Department for Constitutional Affairs; the Scottish Executive; the Scotland Office; and the Wales Office. 2  University of Wales, Board of Celtic Studies funded project: ‘Inclusive Governance: The First Years of the National Assembly for Wales’. 1999– 2001. Project led by Professor Ralph Fevre (award holder). 3  ‘The Equality Policies of the Government of the National Assembly for Wales and their Implementation: July 1999 to January 2002’. A study commissioned by the Equal Opportunities Commission, Disability Rights Commission, Commission for Racial Equality and Institute of Welsh Affairs. Principal applicant and award holder.

Equality and Public Policy

4 the Welsh Assembly Government and the UK government 5 Department for Local Government and Communities, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Wales Office, Scotland Office, Scottish Executive/Government, the Department for Constitutional 6 Affairs and the Northern Ireland Office. Thanks go to colleagues, in particular those that I have been fortunate enough to collaborate with on research projects used in this volume – Professor Teresa Rees, Professor Ralph Fevre, Dr Fiona Mackay, Professor Laura McAllister, Ms Sandra Betts, Professor Charlotte Williams – as well as to professors Richard Wyn Jones and Roger Scully for the opportunity to participate in the Devolution Monitoring Programme. In addition, I wish to register my gratitude to students on the MSc in Equality and Diversity degree scheme at Cardiff University for their enthusiastic engagement and feedback on earlier work that has led to this book.

4  ‘Action against Discrimination in Pay Systems: A Preliminary Evaluation of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Close the Pay Gap Campaign in Wales’, commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government, the Equal Opportunities Commission Wales and the Wales TUC. Principal applicant and award holder. 5  ‘Advice and Guidance to Public Service Providers: Promoting Multi- Strand Equality in the Welsh legislative Context and Beyond, Welsh Assembly Government/UK Government Department for Communities and Local Government (2007)’. Principal applicant and award holder. 6  The Northern Ireland Section 75 Equality Duty: An International Perspective analysis commissioned by the Northern Ireland Office for the Section 75 Equality Duty Operational Review. Co-investigator with Professor Teresa Rees.

viii

Acknowledgements Tables Figures

Contents

1 Introduction: Equalities and Public Policy

2 Theoretical Perspectives on Promoting Equality

3 Exploring Inequality and Discrimination in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

4 Promoting Equality: A Governance Perspective

5 The Equalities ‘Infrastructure’ in the Devolved State

6 Legislating for Equality in a Quasi-Federal UK

7 Analysing the Devolved Governments’ Public Policy Approaches to the Promotion of Equality

8 Lobbying and Electoral Competition on Equality Matters in the Devolved Polity

9 Conclusion: Equalities and Public Policy

Notes Bibliography Index

vii x xi

1

19

35

64

87

111

147

212

260

275 289 347