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Following EHRC research which assessed that the quality of the content of a large proportion of EIAs was poor, they highlighted the key areas requiring improvement are:
- evidence and baseline information about the populations covered by the EIA;
- consultation – many EIAs are produced by an officer (or small group of officers) and do not involve people from the equality groups included in the EIA (or those representing them);
- related to this, there is confusion between consulting on the policy, rather than on the equality impacts of the policy;
- analysis of potential impact – there is a lack of imaginative and inquisitive thinking and discussion about the possible negative impacts and an apparent lack of confidence to ‘think out loud’ about what these might be;
- and identification of mitigating actions – in part because the prior evidence and analysis is not sufficient and in part a lack of confidence (or seniority or responsibility) to bring about change.
There are important conclusions that can be drawn from the EHRC research, on institutional approaches to EIA including the importance of an improved focus on the use of data and evidence, decision making and structures to ensure there are robust processes for accountability, implementation and embedding.