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Communities and neighbourhoods

Commission for Integration and Cohesion Final Report

Date of speech	14 June 2007
Event summary	Commission of Integration and Cohesion's final report

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Draft text of the speech - may differ from the delivered version.

Introduction

Thank you Darra for that introduction, and my thanks to you, and all the Commissioners, for your hard work.

I'm impressed by the way you have gone out into communities up and down the country, talking to hundreds of people who have experienced these issues first-hand.

I welcome your report, and will come on to highlight some particular elements.

But let me start by putting it in context.

Facing up to Change

Britain's tradition of diversity and tolerance is one of its great strengths.

For years, people from all different backgrounds - including migrants, and the children of migrants - have helped this country flourish. Economically. Culturally. And in public life.

They continue to do so today.

Some migrants bring high skills that are essential to our economic future.

Others underpin our vital service sector, in jobs such as hospitality and catering.

And the contribution of migrants is central to the success of essential public services like the NHS.

But we need to be honest, and recognise that changing patterns of migration can sometimes cause particular challenges in local communities.

And some communities will feel the effects much more keenly than others.

We also need to recognise that there are some parts of the country where particular issues arise between different parts of the settled community.  

It is only by facing these issues head-on, that we can continue to benefit from migration and diversity, while maintaining the common bonds that tie us all together.

There are challenges in some parts of the country.

It's vital to take positive action to deal with them.

But I am optimistic about the future, because there are local areas already dealing with them perfectly well - and benefiting from the richness that diversity brings.

The Commission's report shows how.

Local shared futures

At the heart of the report lies a simple but very important idea.

That local action really matters, and local initiative can have an important impact in overcoming the barriers to integration.

We, in central government, haven't always given this the focus we should.

In 2001, after disturbances in Northern towns, central government sat up and listened.   

We engaged in a very important debate about how to deal with situations where Asian and low-income white communities lived parallel lives, side by side, riven with suspicion and misunderstanding.

But since then there have been some significant and rapid changes- technological development, demographic change, and evolving patterns of migration, as well, of course, as globalisation.

I believe Britain's history of tolerance and diversity have helped us adapt well and can stand us in good stead for the future.

But as the world moves on, we must be sensitive to change and find new ways to step up to today's challenges.

We can't do that just by thinking the same way we did in 2001.

We need to refocus and for the first time, the report brings some serious analysis that helps us understand the nature of the issues.

The analysis demonstrates that in many places, communities are united and strong. As Darra has said, four out of five people think that individuals from different backgrounds get on well together in their area.

But the Commission's analysis also maps the very different situations that different parts of the country face.  

And the Commission have found that there are clear patterns to those areas that require action to become more cohesive.

I think Darra's description of the different types of area, what he calls the "family groups", is powerful - powerful because it gives a better understanding of the issues.  

And it's also important because - from my perspective in central government - it provides the outline of a framework for supporting different local areas.

One that is based on a detailed understanding of the barriers to integration.

It's not about trying to apply approaches which may work in Oldham or Burnley to all parts of the country, but recognising unique and particular features of different areas.

Many communities have known for some time that there are real issues, whether from low-level anti social behaviour, a misplaced sense of unfairness about access to public services, or misunderstandings about what is acceptable behaviour in an area. And as Darra has said the evidence shows that little things - like knowing to queue for the bus, or when to put the bin out - can make a big difference to helping people live side by side.

But the Commission does far more than describe the issues.  It also gives detail - grounded in a wealth of evidence - on what can actually be done.  

In very many places, local authorities and local communities have taken these issues seriously, and have thought creatively about how to meet the very diverse needs in their local areas.  

There are places where you may expect poor levels of cohesion, but where instead people have developed strong common bonds.

And I'm really impressed by some of the examples.

Like in Peterborough, where explaining to Polish immigrants that it was fine to fish for carp - but that the local custom was to put them back - helped keep relations on an even keel.

Or in Cornwall, where an information pack helps migrant workers understand local customs as well as protecting them from gangmasters.

Or in Cardiff, where English lessons run by the local police force not only help new arrivals improve their skills, but also improve trust with the police.

It is examples like these that mean this report should provide cause for optimism.    

And the Commission's analysis and evidence helps all local authorities understand what more they can do. 

Place-Shaping Role

Local areas do have an immense potential for bringing people from different backgrounds together.  

Every community wants to be able to feel proud of the place where they live.

Many local authorities have recognised that and are making cohesion as a central part of their strategy to improve their local area. Taking responsibility for the overall wellbeing of their area. And delivering what they know the local community needs.

For example, many local authorities already recognise how civic pride comes to life in our local public institutions. Schools and libraries, surestart centres and open public spaces are where people come together.  

That's why I welcome the initiatives that many local councils have taken on school twinning - helping young people meet others from a different background. I believe the Commission's recommendations for strengthening this tradition are powerful, and will be taken forward by the government.

National Responses

As well as being  a vital guide for local government, the Commission raises some important questions for central government. How it works with, and supports, local communities. And how it sets a national framework.

We will need to explore the specific proposals in detail.

So for example, we will need to think very carefully about the suggestion for a national body - a swift, responsive unit that works closely with local areas - to help manage integration.  

We will also need to examine closely the proposals for specialist teams to come in and help areas experiencing particular challenges.

We definitely need to get better at providing practical, consistent support to local authorities.  

And as well as supporting local areas, central government needs to get the overall framework right.

As Darra has said there are things that are crucial to cohesion. Equality of opportunity. Making sure there are clear rules of the game that everyone understands. And stressing what we all hold in common.

Take equality of opportunity. The Commission say this is a key ingredient of a cohesive community.

I agree. When people feel they can get on in life, they feel more at ease with diversity.  

So equality matters - whether it is schools unlocking each individual's talents and aspirations, or workplaces being free from discrimination.  

And it matters - whether it is Bengali women struggling to find work and get on in the labour market, or low-income white communities hamstrung by a devastating lack of ambition.  

That's why I'm personally committed to making further progress on this issue through the Commission for Equality and Human Rights and, in due course, a Single Equality Bill.

I also agree with the Commission that we need to do more to ensure that everyone understands the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.  

As I argued in a Fabian pamphlet with Liam Byrne, the immigration minister, last week, it's about making sure that there are clear rules in society which are fair and clearly enforced.

Government has recognised this in the last ten years. We've stressed the responsibilities that come with citizenship - as well as the rights - through the welfare system, and through tackling anti-social behaviour.  

Giving people greater confidence that there are clear and enforceable rules has been absolutely the right approach.

It's also important, through a sense of shared citizenship, to stress what we all hold in common.

Emphasising what we share does not mean obscuring what makes us unique.  

Look at me. Born in Ireland, and proud of it. Representing  Bolton, my constituency, and proud of it.  And proud to be British.

Being proud of one doesn't make me any less proud of the others.

But we do need to find more, and better ways, to underline the things we all hold in common.

That's why I welcome the quiet citizenship revolution that's been taking place in Britain over recent years. Lessons in our schools and ceremonies for newcomers on their route to citizenship. Now, I believe it's time to take it the next level.

That's why, last week, I set out ideas for a new national day - but one grounded in local communities and traditions of civic engagement.

And I set out ideas for stressing shared citizenship as people enter adulthood - for example, sending packs to all 18 year olds as they get the right to vote for the first time.  

I welcome similar ideas from the Commission - for example young people finishing their GCSEs could take part in local citizenship ceremonies, perhaps similar to those currently completed by newcomers.  

National and Local Action Together

And I believe the Commission also raises some other important ways of promoting integration: ones that require action from both local authorities, and central government.

For example I welcome the Commission's recommendations on how government, both central and local, funds community groups.

I agree that we should think harder about funding groups representing a single interest or promoting an exclusive form of identity.

Of course there are some cases where it can be necessary and beneficial - such as projects aimed specifically at tackling domestic violence in one specific community.

It is right that we should do more to encourage people to make links with others, and recognise their role in a wider society.  

And I welcome, too, the focus on learning English.

There is widespread agreement about the importance of the English language.  

Few things could be more vital to integrating into British society.  Language skills help people get on in the workplace, and play a bigger part in their community.  

Where I congratulate the commission is that it doesn't merely assert this.  It has some clear-headed ideas about the next steps we should take.

It's only sensible to think about whether translation - while sometimes vital - can become a barrier to people learning the skills they need.  We must promote integration and independence.

And it is right to suggest that any resources saved by cutting translation should be put instead towards the provision of language training.

Conclusion

There are lots of further questions about how to take forward these recommendations.

Over the next few months we will be engaging widely with partners, and the Government will respond fully in the autumn.

But I believe this is a genuine opportunity.

There's an analogy from Jonathan Sacks that I find particularly striking.

He says that different types of society are like different types of building.

There's the Grand Country House - room for all, but all the guests need to defer to the host.

There's the Hotel - everyone pays their bill, and gets a basic service in return.

And there's the Home, that everyone builds together. A place that everyone is proud of, and that everyone has a share in.

The Commission's report has brought new clarity to a vital debate.  

It is based on an unprecedented level of consultation and engagement.

And over the next few months it will be a guide as we make choices about the society we want to be.  

About the values we hold dear.  

And about how we ensure a stronger, more cohesive society - where everyone feels they belong, and have the opportunity to get on.