Equity Impact Evaluations utilisation
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2025.11.11
2.9 Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour of the Chief Minister regarding an Equality Impact Evaluation (OQ.255/2025):
In 2023, the Government produced an Equality Impact Evaluation to help policy officers assess the impact of policies on protected characteristics, including gender, disability and age and other areas, will the Chief Minister advise whether the evaluation is being utilised in relation to the development of all policy and legislation and, if it is not, advise why not?
Deputy L.J. Farnham of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter (The Chief Minister):
I believe policy officials across Government are required to use the same policy template, which includes a specific section on considering equality issues when developing policy and legislation. The template requires officials to refer to the Equality Impact Evaluation guidance document developed in 202,3 and I thank the Deputy and Deputy Jeune for their work on that, as part of considering the impact of any proposed policy or legislation on protected characteristics.
- Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :
I thank the Chief Minister for his answer. Was this document used on the recent Budget and can the Chief Minister outline any other recent examples where this has been used and where it has had a positive impact?
Deputy L.J. Farnham :
Again, I believe it was but I cannot highlight any particular circumstances. Currently the Government does not keep a record of such activity. Our model of Government is that each Minister is responsible for their own policy areas, so we do not keep a central record of that at the moment. But that is something I intend to address.
- Deputy I. Gardiner of St. Helier North :
Would the Chief Minister advise if he is aware what training or accountability mechanism exists for officers to apply this tool?
Deputy L.J. Farnham :
I am not sure of the exact detail of the training but I can get that information for the Deputy if she requires it.
- Deputy H.L. Jeune of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity :
Deputy Gardiner just asked a similar question to me. But I would like to ask the Chief Minister if he would be able to commit to publishing the results of quality impact evaluations when they are carried out on major policy or legislative proposals like the Budget, so the public and Scrutiny can see how decisions are affecting groups, especially because at the moment there seems to be nothing on the website that even indicates Equality Impact Evaluation tools are carried out?
Deputy L.J. Farnham :
I cannot see a problem with that. I would like to discuss that with officials and colleagues but I think that is something we can aim to do.
2.9.7 Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :
The Chief Minister will be aware of the open letter that came from Soroptimist International Jersey branch making reference to specifically Gender Equality Impact Assessments. Would the Chief Minister commit to communicating with that group and the work that the Government is doing, so they can be reassured and, if necessary, ongoing regular communication and take into account their concerns and views?
Deputy L.J. Farnham :
I thought the Government had been in communication but I assure you to make sure the appropriate procedure is followed.