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Theresa May To Find Out How Race Affects Access To Public Services

Theresa May has launched an audit of Whitehall departments to find out how people from different races are treated by Britain's public services.

It aims to identify and publish information showing how outcomes are affected as part of a drive to tackle inequality and reveal "difficult truths".

Downing Street says every UK resident will be given the ability to check whether there are racial disparities in the provision of health, education and employment for example.

Data gathered under the exercise will also be used to help to identify which services need to improve.

Last week, the Equality and Human Rights Commission warned that people from ethnic minorities find inequality is entrenched across many aspects of life in the UK.

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Mrs May said: "When I stood on the steps of Downing Street on my first day, I made clear that I believe in a United Kingdom by every definition - and that means the Government I lead will stand up for you and your family against injustice and inequality.

"Today, I am launching an audit to look into racial disparities in our public services, that stretches right across government.

"It will highlight the differences in outcomes for people of different backgrounds, in every area from health to education, childcare to welfare, employment, skills and criminal justice.

"This audit will reveal difficult truths, but we should not be apologetic about shining a light on injustices as never before. It is only by doing so we can make this country work for everyone, not just a privileged few."

No. 10 said figures show large disparities between how people are treated depending on their race.

They include:

:: People from a Black Caribbean background are three times more likely to be permanently excluded from school than their peers.

:: Black women are seven times more likely to be detained under mental health legislation than white women.

:: People from the ethnic minorities suffer an employment rate 10% lower than the national average, and

:: Ethnic minority households are almost twice as likely to live in relative poverty as white people.

Among the audit's aims is an attempt to determine whether white working class people suffer disadvantages as well as ethnic minorities.

It is already known that white working class boys are less likely to go to university than any other group.

The information is not systematically stored by public services, and is only collected if there is a need to specifically reveal racial disparity.

David Isaac, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: "I warmly welcome the Prime Minister's announcement and hope today marks the start of a whole-government approach to tackling entrenched inequality and disadvantage."