Labour Research January 2011

Equality news

Diversity in the BBC

The BBC is trying to gauge the views of the general public on what it should be doing about promoting equality and diversity.

Responses to the broadcaster's consultation will help to formulate equality and diversity objectives and will feed into the BBC's new diversity strategy, to be published this April. Every division of the BBC will then be responsible for taking action to meet these priorities.

The consultation builds on a number of studies the BBC has carried out over the past two years to better understand the diversity of UK audiences. These include the portrayal of lesbian, gay and bisexual people, disabled people and people in the nations and English regions.

The public sector equality duty contained in the Equality Act 2010 emphasises the importance of public sector bodies consulting with service users around their plans to advance equality practices in their organisation.