Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
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Sadiq Khan - final chance for your views on Government's new race equality strategy

Sadiq Khan - final chance for your views on Government's new race equality strategy

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT News Release (118) issued by COI News Distribution Service on 13 May 2009

Businesses, charities, voluntary groups and local authorities who have not already contributed to the Government's new race equality consultation are asked to come forward and make their views known.

This is the final chance for contributions to be heard and Communities Minister Sadiq Khan today urged as many people as possible to seize the opportunity before the consultation ends 18th May.

Hundreds of people have taken part in eight ground breaking regional roadshows throughout April and May, making their views known and encouraging local community debate. Among the questions tackled have been:

* What practical measures should we be taking to address disadvantages experienced by different Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups?
* What role does the voluntary and community sector have to play in prioritising
race equality at the local level? and;
* How best can we work with the private sector to address ethnic minority employment issues?

Sadiq Khan said:

"As a society we have made considerable progress in addressing race inequalities, but we also recognise that there is a great deal of work that still has to be done. That's why we've been looking afresh at our strategy for tackling race inequality.

"While the role of central government is crucial, this is not an area where the Government has all the answers. That's why it's so important to have an honest and healthy debate within our communities about how we respond to the challenges that face us as a modern multi- racial and diverse democracy.

"Hundreds of people from Newcastle to Bristol have had their say directly, but we still want to hear from as many people as possible on what they think our priorities for tackling race inequalities should be, so we can develop a long-term programme for race equality as well as a strategy for delivering it. If you've not already had your say this is your opportunity to be heard."

Notes to editors

1. To respond to the consultation please visit http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/tacklingraceinequalities

2. The consultation period has been running for 12-weeks ending on 18 May 2009. We will then publish our planned future approach to achieving race equality later in the year.

3. The regional roadshows took place in Reading, Leeds, Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Cambridge, London and Nottingham.

4. For more information and video footage and interviews with roadshow participants please visit http://www.be-utd.org

Media Enquiries: 020 7944 3288
Email: press.office@communities.gsi.gov.uk
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom

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