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Wirral Equality, Diversity & Protected Characteristics

What is the Equality Act?

The Equality Act came into force on 1st October 2010. The Equality Act brought together over 116 separate pieces of legislation into one single Act. Combined, they made up a new Act that provides a legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity for all.

Preventing discrimination: Promoting equality

It is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of:

  • age

  • being or becoming a transsexual person

  • being married or in a civil partnership

  • being pregnant or on maternity leave

  • disability

  • race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin

  • religion, belief or lack of religion/belief

  • sex

  • sexual orientation

These are called ‘protected characteristics’.

You’re protected from discrimination:

  • at work

  • in education

  • as a consumer

  • when using public services

  • when buying or renting property

  • as a member or guest of a private club or association

You’re legally protected from discrimination by the Equality Act 2010 Legislation and summarised at Equality and Human Rights Commission website

National Approach: Success or otherwise for the collection and collation of Protected Characteristics information?

Report on the Inequalities data audit: Office for National Statistics (ONS) (March 2018)

This ONS report took a first look at the outcome of an audit of UK inequalities data on the nine protected characteristics of the Equality Act (2010). It highlights the differences in quality and depth of detail. The background to the report was:

  • In late 2017, Office for National Statistics began an audit to understand the data that are available on the nine protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010.

  • When the call for contributions closed on 1 March 2018, we had received 50 responses from a range of governmental and non-governmental organisations, identifying almost 400 sources of data.

  • In total we received 50 responses to the audit, 39 from government departments and agencies and 11 from non-governmental organisations, including academics, charities and think-tanks.

  • These responses provided links to almost 400 sources of data in a variety of formats, including articles, statistical bulletins, CSV files, datasets or tables, headline commentary and figures, infographics, statistical releases and web tools. Links to a further 55 websites were also provided.

Inequalities data audit: Office for National Statistics (full report)

This highlights the complexity and work to be undertaken to improve at both national and local level the collected and collated information then using this to inform our collective service planning and provision

If you are interested in participating in these groups, please contact inequalities@ons.gov.uk

Key headlines:

The number of sources listing age and sex as protected characteristics was higher than for those identifying any of the other protected characteristics. This is likely to reflect the fact that age and sex are routinely captured in data collection and are used as standard breakdowns in most statistical releases.

In contrast, some of the other characteristics, for example, sexual orientation and gender reassignment, are not routinely included in data collection, so are listed in fewer of the resources in the audit.

Further work is needed to establish the depth of coverage of the protected characteristics in these sources. While age breakdowns may be provided, they may not cover all age groups, for example, children. Conversely, while characteristics such as sexual identity and gender reassignment may be covered in more depth in the resources that include them, there are fewer resources against which to compare results.

As such, the volume of sources reported shouldn’t necessarily be taken as an indication of better depth or coverage of any given characteristic or theme.

For the majority of the reported sources it was possible to allocate a theme. Of these, just over half of the sources related to the health and well-being theme.

Inequalities data audit: Office for National Statistics (full report)

Slightly less than a quarter of the reported sources were UK-wide, with the remainder covering individual countries or combinations of the countries within the UK.

Around three-quarters were reported to be available at lower levels of geography, for example, broken-down by country, region and so on, and around a quarter were reported to be available at local authority level, though further work is needed to establish which of the protected characteristics are available at these lower levels of geography.

Inequalities data audit: Office for National Statistics (full report)

Around three-quarters of the data sources reported are regular publications, updated at least annually if not more frequently. For the annual releases, data are generally available within a year of the end of the reporting period.

Ad hoc or occasional releases tend to cover more specific pieces of analysis, often on some of the least-covered protected characteristics. The majority of these come from surveys so, as part of the working group, we will look at whether these provide data that can be updated on a more regular basis.

Inequalities data audit: Office for National Statistics (full report)

Each of the records included in the audit is an online resource, though it may be a report or table and users are not necessarily able to access the underlying dataset in all cases.

In many cases, the way in which the data are presented in these online resources enables users to easily access and understand the main supporting information , for example, the source, quality information and the underlying methodology used to generate it. However, there are examples where it is more difficult to access these important pieces of information.

Inequalities data audit: Office for National Statistics (full report)

The audit was intended as a first step towards collaboratively developing a data infrastructure by building on and bringing together what already exists on inequalities. The initial findings reported here have highlighted a number of areas for further work on ethnicity data.

ONS expect that the data on the remaining protected characteristics will similarly highlight the need for further work in these other areas. The priority for ONS is therefore to convene technical working groups consisting of experts from a range of organisations to take forward this work.

These groups will fully explore the existing data sources for all the protected characteristics, including their potential to be used for further analysis, identify where the gaps are and prioritise the areas for further work.

 


What is our local understanding in Wirral?

In this section we are collating from a range of known sources the local content that will provide a greater insight for our area in relation to the 9 protected characteristics.

The page will be under review as we seek further opportunities to enhance our local understanding, and from a range of sources, so do please keep calling back to check for any changes and updates.

Protected Characteristics

Local Content

Regional Content

  • Percentage of population by broad age group and local authority in the Liverpool City Region (LCR), 2018 Picture View or Data Table

  • Estimated resident population by age group and local authority in the Liverpool City Region (LCR), mid-2018 Picture View or Data Table

  • Population projections by local authority in the Liverpool City Region (LCR), mid-2018 to mid-2040 Picture View or Data Table

National Content

Links to Other Related Content

Equality and Diversity - Protected Characteristics

Office for National Statistics: Overview of the UK Population: August 2019

Links to Local Insight

Local Insight our local Mapping Tool

Local Content

  • People in Wirral who report they have some sort of disability/health problem that affects their day-to-day activities a lot/little, 2011 Picture View or Data Table 

  • People aged 16-64 who are economically inactive due to permanent sickness/disability, 2011 Picture View or Data Table 

  • Number of children with special educational needs known to schools, 2017-19 Picture View or Data Table

  • Number of people with a learning disability known to GPs, 2016/17 to 2018/19 Picture View or Data Table

Regional Content

  • People aged 16-64 who are economically inactive due to permanent sickness/disability, by local authority in the Liverpool City Region (LCR), 2011 Picture View or Data Table

  • Number of ESA & Incapacity/Severe Disablement Allowance claimants by condition type and local authority in the Liverpool City Region (LCR), February 2018, Picture View or Data Table

National Content

  • Activity limiting health problem, England and Wales, 2011 Picture View

  • Activity limiting health problem by extent of injury across England regions and Wales, 2011 Picture View and Data Table

  • Map of population recording daily activity limitations, 2011

Links to Other Related Content

Equality and Diversity - Protected Characteristics

Links to Local Insight

Local Insight our local Mapping Tool

Local Content

Importantly, estimations of prevalence and incidence of gender dysphoria do not include individuals from the wider Trans community who may experience gender discomfort but do not wish to reassign their gender. A recent GIRES publication estimates that 1% of the UK population experience some level of gender discomfort. In Wirral this translates to an estimate of 3,210 individuals who may be in need of health and other services.

National Content

National LGBT Survey Data Viewer: The Data Viewer allows you to find information about the experiences of LGBT people in the UK who responded to the National LGBT survey in 2017. You can view results on the themes of safety, education, health, and employment for different LGBT groups.

Estimates of the prevalence and incidence of gender dysphoria and Transsexualism are difficult to quantify due to the lack of robust national data. Commissioning of health services for gender dysphoria has historically been based on the results of a Scottish primary care study published in 1999 which estimated a prevalence of 8.18 per 100,000 population aged over 15 years.

In other research, estimated prevalence was 20 per 100,000, and estimated incidence was 3 per 100,000 aged 15 and over per year presenting for treatment in the UK.  These figures were estimated from numbers of those seeking treatment for gender dysphoria at Gender Identity Clinics in the UK, so are thought to be underestimates due to the number of individuals who do not seek medical help in the UK. 

Gender recognition and the rights of transgender people (House of Commons Library - July 2020)
This briefing paper considers the current law relating to gender recognition; the medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria; the current protections from discrimination; consultations by the UK government and the Scottish government on reform of the Gender Recognition Act 2004; and the 'self-identification' debate.

Links to Other Related Content

Equality and Diversity - Protected Characteristics

Links to Local Insight

Local Insight our local Mapping Tool

Local Content

Regional Content

  • Total number of marriages by local authority in the Liverpool City Region (LCR), 2017 Picture View or Data Table

National Content

  • Trend of the number of civil partnerships in England and Wales, 2005 - 2018, Picture View

  • Trend in marriages for opposite sex couples, England and Wales, 1937 - 2017, Picture View

  • Trend in marriage rates for opposite sex couples, England and Wales, 1937 - 2017, Picture View

Links to Other Related Content

Links to Local Insight

Local Insight our local Mapping Tool

Local Content

Regional Content

  • Trend in smoking at the time of delivery, by authorities in the Liverpool City Region, 2010/11 to 2017/18, Picture View or Data Table

National Content

  • Percentage of live births by age group of mother and father, England and Wales, 2017, Picture View

  • Average age of mothers and fathers at the the birth of their child, England and Wales, 1938 to 2017, Picture View

  • Percentage of women giving birth at home, England and Wales, 1960 to 2017, Picture View

Links to Other Related Content

Equality and Diversity - Protected Characteristics

Links to Local Insight

Local Insight our local Mapping Tool

Local Content

Regional Content

  • Number and percentage of individuals in each broad ethnic group by local authority in the Liverpool City Region, 2011, Picture View or Data Table

National Content

  • Proportion of people in each broad ethnicity catergory, England and Wales, 2011, Picture View

Links to Other Related Content

Links to Local Insight

Local Insight our local Mapping Tool

Local Content

Regional Content

  • Estimated resident population of the local authorities in the Liverpool City Region (mid-2017), by sex, Picture View and Data Table

National Content

  • Population pyramid of estimated resident population (mid-2017) in England and Wales by sex and single year of age, Picture View

Links to Other Related Content

Equality and Diversity - Protected Characteristics

Links to Local Insight

Local Insight our local Mapping Tool

Local Content

Given personal sensitivity regarding sexual orientation, limited reliable information is available on the numbers of LGBTQ+, and estimates are likely to under-estimate true numbers.

The 2011 Census did not have a specific question regarding sexual orientation, but found that 466 people (0.18% of the 16+ Borough population) reported being in a same sex Civil Partnership.

Regional Content 

  • Estimated number of people by sexual identity and region, 2014-2018 Picture View and Data Table

  • English regions by lesbian, gay or bisexual population, 2014 and 2018, Picture View

National Content

  • Personal well-being by self-reported sexual identity in the UK, 3 years ending December 2015 Picture View

  • Breakdown of people by sexual orientation, UK, 2014 to 2018, Picture View

  • Lesbian, gay or bisexual population by sex, UK, 2018, Picture View

Links to Other Related Content

Equality and Diversity - Protected Characteristics

Sexual Orientation, UK: 2018 Office for National Statistics (ONS) Release

Links to Local Insight

Local Insight our local Mapping Tool


Public Sector and Equality Duty

A requirement of the Equality Duty 2010 is for the local council to publish information relating to people affected by our policies and decisions. This asks:

  • who accesses our services?

  • what reasonable adjustments are provided to customers to access our services?

  • how satisfied are customers with our services?

  • what feedback do customers give us?

  • what is the number and type of complaints we receive from customers?

  • do we have different service outcomes for different groups of people?


For information
Briefing: The Public Sector Equality Duty and Equality Impact Assessments
(House of Commons Library) (July 2020)
This briefing outlines the Public Sector Equality Duty contained in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, which requires public authorities to have due regard to several equality considerations when exercising their functions.

Next Workforce Equality Report (for 2019/20) expected Winter 2020/21