HARMAN: TREVOR PHILLIPS AND BARONESS PROSSER REAPPOINTED AS CHAIR & DEPUTY CHAIR OF EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

15th July 2009

Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality, today announced the reappointment of Trevor Phillips as Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission for a second three-year term.  She also announced the reappointment of Baroness Margaret Prosser as Deputy Chair for the same period.

The   reappointments of Trevor Phillips and Baroness Prosser will be accompanied by a restructured EHRC Board.  

Ms Harman said:

“I am delighted to be reappointing Trevor Phillips and Margaret Prosser as Chair and Deputy Chair of the EHRC. Their experience at the helm will be critical in helping us to put the flesh on the bones of the new Equality Bill.

 “The Commission will continue to push forward its important work on entrenched problems of inequality and will be focussing on its role as equality enforcer making sure public authorities comply with their duties to tackle discrimination and promote fair opportunities for all.

“The work of the Commission is overseen at Ministerial-level by Maria Eagle, Deputy Minister for Women and Equality, and a long-standing champion of equality.  Her excellent work is vital to ensure the Commission is properly accountable for fulfilling its important duties and in its expenditure of public money.” 

The EHRC tomorrow publishes its strategic plan outlining its aims and objectives for the next three years. This includes:

• Supporting the implementation of the Equality Bill.
• Making sure public authorities deliver the existing public sector duties by using its  powers as a regulatory enforcer.
• Preparing public authorities for the new public sector Equality Duty.

 ENDS 

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Please contact the Government Equalities Office press office on 0207 276 0988.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

• The Government Equalities Office is responsible for the Government’s overall strategy, legislation and priorities on equality issues. It was established in July 2007. The Office also has direct responsibility for policy on gender equality, sexual orientation, and for integrating work on race.
• The Equality and Human Rights Commission is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006, which took over the responsibilities of Commission for Racial Equality, Disability Rights Commission and Equal Opportunities Commission.
• The Equality and Human Rights Commission enforces equality legislation on age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender status, and encourage compliance with the Human Rights Act. It also gives advice and guidance to businesses, the voluntary and public sectors, and to individuals.
• Commissioner appointments on the board of the EHRC will be reduced and re-advertised. The appointments are due to be advertised from 26th July in the Sunday Times, the Guardian, the Western Mail and via the public appointments website. The current EHRC board includes:

             Trevor Phillips, Chair of the EHRC

             Baroness Margaret Prosser, Deputy Chair of the EHRC

             Dr. Neil Wooding, EHRC Wales Commissioner

             Morag Alexander, EHRC Scotland Commissioner

             Kay Allen, Baroness Jane Campbell, Kay Carberry,

             Baroness Sally Greengross, Francesca Klug, Ben Summerskill, 

             Maeve Sherlock, Rev. Joel Edwards, Ziauddin Sardar, Sir Bert Massie, 

             Jeannie Drake