Equalities Office

Prime minister Gordon Brown is setting up a Government Equalities Office (GEO) “to strengthen the government’s ability to deliver across the entire equalities agenda”.

The GEO will be based at the Department for Work and Pensions, and be supported by its staff. The Women and Equalities Unit will transfer to the same location from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

Leader of the House of Commons Harriet Harman is the new secretary of state for equality, with Stevenage MP Barbara Follett appointed equality minister. Because of their links to the community cohesion agenda, race and faith issues will remain the preserve of the DCLG.