Commons Sense

Hansard-based summaries and metrics

Equalities Policy Evidence Base

2021-01-13

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Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Tom Randall
▸ Context
The question is about ensuring that policies are informed by robust evidence, which is a general query regarding the methodology and approach to policy-making.
What steps she is taking to ensure that her policies are informed by robust evidence.
Elizabeth Truss
We can and must have an equality agenda that is driven by evidence, and that is why we have launched an equality data project, which will look at the life paths of individuals across this country and deliver hard data about the barriers that people face.
▸ Assessment & feedback
The specific steps or measures requested were not detailed.
Launched An Equality Data Project
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Tom Randall
▸ Context
During the Christmas break, The Guardian published comments by Halima Begum of the Runnymede Trust suggesting that the government's long-term plan is to work up white nationalism for the next elections. This prompted a question about whether such thinking should have any place in Government policy or discourse.
Over the Christmas break, I was disappointed to read comments in The Guardian by Halima Begum of the Runnymede Trust, who ridiculously claimed: 'I think the government's long-term plan is to work up white nationalism for the next elections'. Does my right hon. Friend agree that not only should that insulting thinking have no place in the setting of Government policy, but it should have no place in mainstream discourse?
Elizabeth Truss
I agree with my hon. Friend—these comments are appalling. They reflect an attitude on the left of politics that says, “If you're not from an oppressed group, you're not entitled to an opinion”, and I think that is fundamentally wrong. I believe that equality is for everyone, and I am not going to let this debate be dominated by a few campaign groups.
▸ Assessment & feedback
The specific question about the comments was avoided in favor of criticizing an opposing viewpoint.
Reflects An Attitude On The Left Let This Debate Be Dominated
Response accuracy