Putting the New into 'New TSN'
From: Just News April 2000
Shortly after his election as leader of the Labour Party, Tony Blair set about launching 'New Labour'. The history of New Labour thus far is somewhat chequered, a spectacular election victory, followed by disillusionment in the 'old Labour' heart lands, amid accusations that New Labour lacked substance, more concerned with style and presentation than addressing the serious social problems. Now that the initial gloss surrounding 'cool Britannia' seems to be losing its shine many are asking whether 'New Labour' is serious about reducing the levels of inequality and deprivation within society, or whether their main priority is to block the election of old lefties to positions of power, lest they embarrass the 'new' breed of Blairite politicians. These issues are worth bearing in mind when one considers how 'New TSN' might deliver its promises.
As long ago as 1991 Peter Brooke announced that it would be a priority of Government to ensure that resources were directed to those most in need. Unfortunately, as those who have followed the equality debate since 1991 will be aware, other than this pronouncement, not a lot appears to have been achieved with regard to TSN. Eithne McLaughlin in her research published as part of the SACHR review found that 'TSN was a policy requiring definition and operation'. Further confusion ensued, when Baroness Denton claimed that 'the whole of NI was a TSN area' thus appearing to equate the deprived wards of West and North Belfast with Helen's Bay and Cultra. Indeed, perhaps the final nail in the coffin for 'old TSN' was the revelation that TSN monies were used to fund a golf tournament in North Down.
Following a severely critical analysis of the operation of TSN in the SACHR employment equality report, the 'new' Labour government published its white paper 'Partnership for Equality'. In addition to proposals relating to some minor changes in fair employment legislation; the amalgamation of the equality commissions; and a 'New' Deal (surprise surprise!) for the unemployed; was a proposal to introduce 'New TSN'. Indeed the white paper specifically acknowledged that while the Government endorsed the rationale and objectives of TSN, it 'did not believe that TSN has been applied to date with the vigour and effectiveness which a policy of this importance should warrant'. In line with this view the White Paper recommended that New TSN should have a particular emphasis in addressing the problems of unemployment and unemployability.
New TSN was to be explicitly the responsibility of the Secretary of State, who would provide future political direction and oversight of the initiative, though individual Ministers would continue to have responsibility for departmental implementation. Individual departments would be required to produce draft strategic action plans, where possible including targets, and consulting appropriately in the drawing up of the plans. The White Paper also proposed the establishment of an initiative, Promoting Social Exclusion, whose purpose would be to promote cross-departmental policies and programmes which transcend departmental boundaries, where multi-dimensional action is required.
Last November saw the publication of 'Vision into Practice', the first 'New TSN Annual Report' which included the draft strategic action plans for consultation, showing how Departments proposed to target their efforts and resources. Initially the consultation was to have taken place over Christmas, with a deadline of the end of January, however, following the devolving of power, the First/Deputy First Ministers decided to extend the deadline to the end of February.
In CAJ's response to the Action Plans a number of points were raised which
we felt were worthy of comment. For example as regards the consultation
itself, CAJ considered whether the best option was to produce materials
costing £10, particularly given the impact that this might have on the ability
of the target groups to engage adequately with the process. Equally of concern
was the fact that two consultative seminars were held in Belfast and Derry,
yet each seminar was given a different agenda. In addition, it was unclear
which initiatives were taken to reach out especially to groups and people
knowledgeable about unemployment, Travellers, lone parents, the elderly
etc. all groups that are likely to be disproportionately represented among
the poor and socially excluded. In relation to this point it was surprising
that the Action plans were generally silent about the relationship between
TSN and the new statutory duty to promote equality, particularly given the
close relationship between the two - indeed CAJ has gone as far as to say
that TSN is the statutory duty in operation. |
