Defra Race Equality Scheme and Progress Reports

The Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 (RR(A)A) places a positive duty on public authorities to promote racial equality in the provision of services and to improve equal opportunities in employment.

Defra is bound by both the General and Specific duties of the Act. This means that Defra has to promote equality in all of its operations, in policy making, service delivery and employment practices.

In addition, Defra is also subject to a number of specific duties, these include publishing a Race Equality Scheme which sets out how the Department will meet the duties imposed and producing an annual progress report.

Defra published a draft Race Equality Scheme in 2003 which was put to public consultation. The current Scheme takes account of the responses to that consultation.

• Race Equality Scheme (125 KB)

Progress reports

• Progress Report 2005 (166 KB)
• Progress Report 2004 (185 KB)
• Progress Report 2003 (150 KB)