This Lords Library briefing presents information on the recently announced review to examine the progression of black and ethnic minority (BME) people within the labour market. It also sets out commentary from a selection of external bodies and the findings from a Government review into BME progression in the civil service. Finally, the briefing references various statistical sources of information on employment by BME status.
Black and Minority Ethnic People in the Workplace in Britain (336KB PDF)
On 5 February 2016, Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, made a speech in which he confirmed the establishment of a review to examine progression of black and ethnic minority (BME) people within the labour market. Baroness McGregor-Smith (Conservative) has been appointed to lead this review. Its remit includes:
The review aims to report by the end of 2016. This House of Lords Library briefing provides information on this “cross-Whitehall Ministerial taskforce” alongside other initiatives that the Government has supported to increase BME progression in the workplace.
This briefing sets out commentary from a selection of external bodies and the findings from a Government review into BME progression in the civil service. Finally, the briefing references various statistical sources of information on employment by BME status. Recently published statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions has shown that:
The employment rate gap (the difference in employment rates) between the overall population and ethnic minorities for 2015 is 11.1 percentage points. Overall, the employment rate gap has gradually been decreasing since this [data] series began in 1993. The 2015 employment rate gap of 11.1 percentage points represents a 0.5 percentage point decrease from 2014. Employment rates for ethnic minorities saw a greater increase (1.4 percentage points) than that of the overall population (0.9 percentage points).
Black and Minority Ethnic People in the Workplace in Britain (336KB PDF)
In January 2026, the government announced a new scheme to support urgent repairs and essential improvements to listed places of worship. Called the ‘Places of worship renewal fund for England’, it replaced the ‘Listed places of worship grant scheme’ which had run since 2001. This briefing provides an overview of both schemes, the government’s reasoning for the change and the reaction of stakeholders.
There have been big differences in expenditure across different forms of healthcare for a number of years. In 2024/25, spending on acute care was £74.7bn, compared to £14.5bn on primary care and £13.8bn on community services. Both the 2024 Labour Party manifesto and the subsequent 10 year health plan for England contained an emphasis on shifting towards more care being delivered in local communities rather than in acute settings, dubbed a ‘neighbourhood health service’.
Concerns about abuse and intimidation towards elected representatives have increased in recent years. The Jo Cox Civility Commission made a number of recommendations in a 2024 report to address this because of concerns that this activity would dissuade people from standing in elections and encourage existing representatives to stand down. The government has instigated a number of policies to tackle the abuse and intimidation of elected representatives.
