This was published on 28 February, and anticipates the UK plan to merge
the equalities bodies for sex, race and disability into a new Commission
for Equality and Human Rights in October 2007.
http://www.theequalitiesreview.org.uk/publications/interim_report.aspx
[Despite the URL, it is the final report.]

I haven't read it all, but skipped to Chapter 5 Step 8: Using public
procurement and commissioning positively.
Excerpt:
"The Government and the wider public sector have enormous purchasing
power, by virtue of how much they spend buying goods and services from
the private and voluntary sectors. This is an area where Government
leadership is absolutely essential, and one in which Government should
be seen to set an example ... we propose that the new public sector duty
should incorporate a specific requirement for public bodies to use
procurement as a tool for achieving greater equality. Ensuring that
commissioning frameworks require providers to analyse the needs of
different groups, and that they monitor provision using quantitative and
qualitative analysis, will also be an important element of the new duty.
Implementation should be led by the recently restructured Office of
Government Commerce and the Treasury, as part of the ongoing
professionalisation of the public sector procurement system. This will
facilitate the necessary clarity of process and intent that will be
essential for suppliers and procurers alike."

We will need to monitor whether progress is made and offer our input as
appropriate.
Best wishes
---
Ruth Loebl
Senior ICT Development Officer

Royal National Institute of the Blind
58-72 John Bright Street
Birmingham
B1 1BN
Tel: +44 (0)121-665 4231
Fax: +44 (0)121-665 4201
Email: Ruth.Loebl@...
Web: http://www.rnib.org.uk/technology/


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