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15 December, 2020 Open access

‘Perfect storm’ has made the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic particularly acute for BAME people, say MPs

Women and Equalities Committee report highlights particular concerns around universal credit claims processes and impact of no recourse to public funds policy

The House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee has described how, by increasing pre-existing inequalities, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a ‘perfect storm’ for Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) people.

In a new report, Unequal impact? Coronavirus and BAME people, the Committee examines a range of policy areas - including housing, employment, health and the benefits system - where existing inequalities have exacerbated the impacts of the pandemic on BAME communities -

'The factors discussed in this report were affecting some BAME groups before the onset of the pandemic. As the pandemic progressed, these underlying inequalities made the impact on some BAME groups far more severe than on their White counterparts.’

For example, in relation to welfare benefits, in particular universal credit, the Committee highlights that there are known barriers to applying for universal credit, caused by its reliance on digital access, that limit access for BAME people without internet access (or expertise). In addition, the Committee warns that the government does not know enough about how universal credit is operating for different ethnic groups - such as how many BAME claimants there are, their degree of proficiency in English, and if they are negatively affected by the application system.

As a result, the Committee recommends that -

In addition, the Committee considers the impact of the no recourse to public funds policy - that impacts in particular on access to housing and benefits - and say that while there is very limited in-depth evidence that provides an account of the impacts on BAME people thus far -

'... early evidence provides the consensus that there are severe impacts of the no recourse to public funds policy that need to be addressed. We recommend that the Government suspends the no recourse to public funds policy for the duration of the pandemic. We recommend that the Home Office conducts an inquiry into the impact of the no recourse to public funds policy on BAME people and publishes a report by the end of summer 2022.'

NB - the Committee’s recommendations for other policy areas include for the government to publish improved COVID-19 guidance for people living in overcrowded and/or multi-generational accommodation, and for the government to address its deep concerns about the impact of zero-hours contracts on BAME people.

Unequal impact? Coronavirus and BAME people is available from parliament.uk

Update (5 March 2021) - the government's response to the report confirms that some of the Committee's recommendations have already been actioned and others will be picked up under existing streams of work.