The new coalition government introduced a raft of new legislation in yesterday’s Queen’s Speech which promises to bring radical change to the country. Whilst the full details of the new legislation have not yet been published, below are some early thoughts on what it could mean for race equality.

Given the unequal attainment levels of different ethnic groups, the pupil premium included in the Education and Children’s Bill may have a positive impact on those BME children in lower attaining groups. However clarification will be needed on how the pupil premium will be allocated – will, for example, being a child from an ethnic group with the lowest attainment levels (such as Gypsy, Roma and Traveller groups, or Black Caribbean Children) result in receiving pupil premium funding? In addition, it is important that the amount allocated through the premium is enough as to act as a sufficient incentive for schools to accept them as pupils.

The slimming down of the curriculum could be a concern if citizenship classes and other multi-cultural initiatives are scrapped – however it is not yet clear whether this will be the case.

The emphasis on increasing patient choice in the Health Bill may impact some BME people differently from other groups. Previous research by Runnymede on school choice found that BME parents find it difficult to exercise choice, and therefore downgrade their options prior to selecting schools. Further research would be needed to consider whether this would be the case in heath, but it is worth considering the school choice example

With the Queen’s Speech and official opening of Parliament taking place next week, all eyes will be on what legislation the new coalition government will introduce.

Bills are expected on education, immigration and crime – and of course, the economy. However, one of the most eye-catching prospects for the race equality sector will be what the coalition is calling a “Freedom or Great Repeal Bill”.

Outlined in the seven page coalition agreement, the new government highlights that it will scrap or roll-back initiatives introduced under the Labour government which have been perceived by some as infringing civil liberties. Up for the axe include the controversial ID card scheme, the National Identity register and the next generation of biometric passports. In addition, “safeguards” against the misuse of anti-terrorism legislation are proposed.

For the race equality sector, proposals to reform the DNA database will be of particular interest. Research by the Ministry of Justice and Department for Work and Pensions previously found that 30% of all black men living in Britain are on the DNA database compared with 10% of white men, and that 57% of innocent DNA samples taken in London are from the black population.  The coalition government is currently proposing to adopt similar measures to those used for the Scottish DNA database which will mean that people acquitted of less serious offences will have their profile removed from the database.

Former Shadow Equalities Spokesperson Lynne Featherstone MP has today been appointed as a Junior Home Office Minister with responsibility for equalities.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP will work under Theresa May MP - the new Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equality - although the full details of her role have not yet been made clear.

Featherstone, who was Equalities Spokesperson for two years, wrote a paper for Runnymede in February outlining her party's race equality policies. In the paper she called for the introduction of a "name blank" application policies in employment and accused the Labour government of  "badly managing" the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. Featherstone also criticised the over-representation of the black population on the DNA database.

Just a quick post to draw attention to the Operation Black Vote rally which took place in Westminster last night. The event – called “Black Britain Decides” –  was attended by around 2500 BME voters and focused on a number of issues including representation and the DNA database.

In what looks to be the largest political rally of the campaign, high-profile representatives of all the major parties took part including Harriet Harman, George Osborne and Vince Cable. OBV have frequently pointed out that marginal seats across the country could easily be swung by ethnic minority votes, including Finchley and Golders Green, Solihull, Battersea, Crawley, Harlow, Bradford West, Ealing North, Birmingham Yardley and Hove.

A write up on the event is available on the Guardian and I’m sure further info will be available on the OBV blog later in the day.

Following blog posts written by Gordon Brown and Nick Clegg for the Operation Black Vote blog outlining their parties’ race equality policies, Theresa May has today highlighted how the Tories plan to help BME communities.

May – who is the party’s equalities spokesperson – argues in the post that the Conservative Party is committed tacking discrimination and promoting equality. She states that there is clear evidence that race is a “key influence” on individual achievement, highlighting the disproportionate number of black children excluded from school and the low numbers of BME students attending Oxford University.

She states that the party supported the Equality Act in parliament and adds that the Equality and Human Rights Commission will have a continuing role in protecting the rights of individuals and groups.

Following Gordon Brown’s post on the Operation Black Vote blog yesterday, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has followed suit with a post on his party’s policies for BME communities.

Arguing that the Lib Dems will ensure that the statute book protects BME communities, Clegg states that his party will uphold the Human Rights Act and support the EHRC.

Highlighting the over-representation of black men in the criminal justice system, he argues that the Lib Dems will make stop and search intelligence led and will remove innocent people from the DNA database. He also labels CLG’s PREVENT programme as one which “alienates” Muslim communities.

The government’s controversial Crime and Security Bill received Royal Assent last week. Of particular interest, the bill allows DNA profiles of convicted offenders to be kept indefinitely and for the profiles of those who have been arrested but not convicted to be kept on database for a fixed period of time.

The bill also introduces a mandatory parenting needs assessment when young people aged ten to 15 are being considered for an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) and parenting orders where they have breached their ASBOs.

Runnymede recently held an e-conference on ethnic profiling in the criminal justice system, which touched on issues including the DNA database, ASBOs and stop and search. Of particular interest, Shadow Immigration Minister Damian Green MP wrote an article as part of the conference calling for a smaller and more targeted DNA database, whilst Lib Dem Shadow Home Secretary Chris Huhne MP outlined his thoughts on stop and search. You can still access the e-conference on our website.

The Home Affairs Select Committee this week published a report which argues that a new centralised system is needed for removals from the DNA database. In the report - which outlines the findings of its recent inquiry into the government database - the Committee also says that while it does not question the indefinite retention of the DNA profiles of those convicted of crimes,  the current system of indefinitely retaining the DNA profiles of people who are not actually convinced of any crime is "impossible to defend" . However, the report does not focus on the disproportionate numbers of those from the black community profiled on the database.