Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether they have made an estimate of the potential impact of abolishing diversity, equity and inclusion roles in their Department on annual staffing costs.

The delivery of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) activity and staffing requirements is decided by Departments as the employer.

Civil Service Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Expenditure guidance, published under the previous Government in May 2024, states:

Internal Efficiency Measures

18. Internal measures are important to promote efficient and effective EDI practice, which aligns to Government priorities. To ensure EDI spend in the Civil Service is commensurate with agreed organisational priorities the following measures must be considered:

c. Incorporate standalone EDI staffing roles into broader HR: The responsibility for EDI delivery should be embedded into HR professionals’ broader accountabilities. The CS D&I Strategy frames an approach where diversity and inclusion is not an end in itself, but an integral means of delivering better outcomes for our citizens.