FOI release
FOI Request – Oversight of Equality Impact Assessments
Case reference FOI2025/01271
Received 5 December 2025
Published 29 January 2026
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am writing to request information regarding the Department’s central management and monitoring of Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs). Please provide responses to the following 5 questions for the financial year 2024/25: 1. Central Oversight: Please confirm if the Department holds a centralised register or database of all EQIAs completed across all directorates. If YES, please provide a copy of this list. If NO, please provide the policy document that sets out how the Department monitors EQIA quality and completion rates centrally. 2. Consultation: Of the EQIAs completed in this period, how many included a formal public consultation period of less than 6 weeks? 3. Cost of Challenge: In the last 3 financial years, what was the total amount (£) paid to external legal counsel for advice, defence, or settlement of Judicial Reviews where equality duties were a cited ground for challenge? 4. Sign-Off: Please provide a list of the 5 EQIAs with the highest financial value completed in the last financial year. For each, state the date the drafting was completed and the date it was approved by the Minister/Permanent Secretary. 5. Monitoring: Please provide the formal policy document detailing the process for post-implementation monitoring of EQIAs. Please provide this information in digital format. If the cost limit is exceeded, please prioritise questions 1, 3, and 5.
Response
See attached
Documents
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