Society

Dear Ms Sivyour,

Thank you for your recent email about the meaning of "society" in relation
to Improving Opportunity Strengthening Society.

I think the information you request is already in the public domain: The
original strategy document
(see link attached
[1]http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/... )
states, at page 20:

'This is a strategy for Great Britain and will apply in Northern Ireland
only
to those matters that are reserved or excepted under the provisions of the
Northern Ireland Act 1998. It acknowledges that race equality and
community
relations are matters for the Northern Ireland Administration, which is
developing strategies for race equality and community relations. It also
acknowledges that there are separate devolution arrangements for Scotland
and Wales. This strategy has been developed in consultation with the
Scottish
and Welsh administrations, who are committed to its aims and will produce
their own action plans, outlining how they will promote community cohesion
and race equality over the next three years.'

I hope this is the information that you require

Tony Lord
Race Equality Diversity
Communities and Local Government

Please note I work part-time (Tues - Thurs) and that I am now out of the
office until 20th April

show quoted sections

Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/...

Thanks for your email. Alas I am now out of the office until Tuesday 20
April. I will look at your email then ......but if you need a response
meanwhile please copy / consult:

- Ian Naysmith x 42063 or Maria Munoz x 42064 on international race
equality issues, the Equality Bill, human rights, the EU anti
discrimination directive;

- Saima Williams x 42058 or Kashif Butt x 42059 on the Single Equality
Scheme or the delivery of the Department's equality obligations

- Vicky Reville x 42062 on equality impact assessments and mainstreaming

- Neil Harris x 42065 on MSU cases / correspondence.

Thanks...Tony Lord

show quoted sections

Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.

Thank you for your further note. I was unable to reply earlier - as the footnote to my message explained, I was away for two weeks; then my return was further delayed by the air traffic control restrictions.

I am sorry that you think that I did not answer your query. Your original query about "society" was raised in the context of the publication Improving Opportunity Strengthening Society - a race equality strategy which we have been actively implementing as part of our Departmental responsibilities, and so it was reasonable to assume that it related to that....hence the geographical information I gave about how it operated in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. That is the society we had in mind.

It now appears that your query is much more general. If that is the case then there is, I think, little more that I can add. We have no statutory or other responsibility for "society" as such or for deciding or influencing how it is named. We have no special names for it. I have no information on how society should be named. We use the word as in common parlance. The Oxford dictionary descriptions most apposite appear to be: "1 the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community. 2 a particular community of people living in a country or region, and having shared customs, laws, and organizations."

I hope this explains the position.

Yours sincerely

Tony Lord
Race Equality Diversity
Communities & Local Government

Please note I work part-time (Tues - Thurs)

show quoted sections