CLOSER Policy alert: New call for evidence – Women and Equalities Committee inquiry into the unequal impact of coronavirus

Earlier this year, the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee began an inquiry into the impact of coronavirus and the Government’s response on different groups in society.

Following over 500 submissions, the Committee has now identified specific areas where more evidence is needed and has launched three new sub-inquiries focusing on:

1. Coronavirus and BAME people
2. Gendered economic impact
3. Disability and access to services

The Committee would like to hear your views, and what actions you think the Government and others can take to mitigate impacts. Information gathered by the sub-inquiries will help the Committee make clear and effective recommendations for change.

Unequal impact? Coronavirus and BAME people

This sub-inquiry will focus specifically on the impact on BAME people during the pandemic. Relevant areas that could be informed by longitudinal evidence include:

• Factors that made BAME communities vulnerable to the effects of the virus, for example living in overcrowded housing, health inequality, deprivation.
• The impact of the pandemic on BAME communities, for example higher death rates, exposure to the virus.
• The impact of the Government measures to contain the virus on BAME people, for example difficulty in self-isolating, being keyworkers, loss of income.

The deadline for written evidence submissions is Friday 10 July 2020.

Access the call for evidence for ‘Unequal impact? Coronavirus and BAME people’

Unequal impact? Coronavirus and the gendered economic impact

This sub-inquiry will look at a number of emerging issues, including how the economic impact of coronavirus has affected men and women differently and the specific economic impact on men and women with other protected characteristics or intersecting identities (for example, women or men with disabilities; women and men from BAME communities; pregnant women). Relevant questions that could be informed by longitudinal evidence include:

• How has the economic impact of Coronavirus affected men and women differently?
• To what extent do the different impacts on men and women reflect existing sex or gender-based inequalities?
• How have Government measures affected economic inequalities for men and women?
• What has the specific economic impact been on men and women with other protected characteristics or intersecting identities (for example, women or men with disabilities; women and men from BAME communities; pregnant women)?

The deadline for written evidence submissions is Monday 13 July 2020.

Access the call for evidence for ‘Coronavirus and the gendered economic impact’

Unequal impact? Coronavirus, disability and access to services

This sub-inquiry will focus on overcoming problems faced by disabled people who need access to essential services during the coronavirus pandemic. Relevant areas that could be informed by longitudinal research include:

• Disabled people’s access to food, healthcare services and education during the pandemic.
• The mental health of disabled people, including the effects of isolation and access to mental health services.

The deadline for written evidence submissions is Monday 13 July 2020.