Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Institutional Racism

Wednesday 25 November 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government established the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities in July to review inequality across education, employment, health, and the criminal justice system.
  • The Minister stated a commitment to examining the "Black Curriculum" report to assess its conclusions from an equalities perspective.
  • The Minister indicated willingness to discuss the report's findings with the Secretary of State for Education.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife
Justice & Courts Education Employment Democracy & Elections
Context

The question arises from concerns about institutional racism across various sectors in the UK, including education, employment, health, and criminal justice.

Question

What steps the Government are taking to tackle institutional racism. The issue of institutional racism has been highlighted through the Black Lives Matter movement and the death of George Floyd, leading to significant correspondence from constituents emphasizing the need for a representative curriculum in schools.

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

We are committed to a fairer society. In July, the Government set up the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, which is reviewing inequality in the UK, focusing on areas that include education, employment, health and the criminal justice system. The commission is looking at outcomes for the whole population and is due to report at the end of the year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was not directly addressed with concrete steps or commitments towards tackling institutional racism.

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Q2 Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife
Education Women & Equalities
Context

This year, the Black Lives Matter movement highlighted issues of racial inequality. Constituents have raised concerns about the current national curriculum in England, which is said to omit the contributions of black British history.

Question

Today, the “Black Curriculum” report has concluded that the national curriculum in England systematically omits the contribution of black Britons and other people of colour have played in our history. Will the Minister speak to the Secretary of State for Education, urge him to work with colleagues in the devolved Administrations, such as Kirsty Williams in Wales, and ensure that we have a truly reflective curriculum?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I have not seen the report that the hon. Lady refers to, but I will look at it with interest, decide, from an equalities perspective, whether I agree with the conclusions that have been made, and then speak to the Secretary of State for Education about it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was not directly addressed; no concrete actions or timeline were provided.

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