4 What were the overall findings of the assessment and consultation?

4.1 The main findings are summarised in this section. A copy of the report on the Diversity Impact Assessment General Survey and Focus Group from Kingfisher Business Consultancy is attached at Annex 6.

4.2 The questionnaire

4.2.1 The questionnaire asked questions relating to:

• Age
• Disability
• Ethnicity
• Gender
• Sexual orientation
• Religion or belief
• Working patterns

142 questionnaires were returned completed giving a response rate of 58%. The responses identified the following issues:

• Transport
• Age
• Length of employment with Land Registry
• Limitation of current skills to transfer to any new employment
• Limited opportunities for jobs and employment outside Land Registry
• Family commitments such as childcare and education, and elderly care
• Financial issues around redundancy packages and pensions

4.2.2 A summary of the responses and issues identified from the questionnaire is contained in the Kingfisher Report referred to at Annex 6.

4.3 Focus Groups

4.3.1 Initial Groups held on 24 April 2007:

• A total of 21 people attended, 7 male and 14 female in an age range between to 30 to 50.
• Many of the comments made during the focus groups correspond with comments made in the questionnaire especially in relation to family commitments, transport issues, transferable skills and loss of salary (and benefits) if moving to employment outside Land Registry.
• The Report of the first set of focus groups is set out in Annex 6.

4.3.2.1 The second set of focus groups held on 16 May 2007:

• a total of 25 staff attended the sessions, 20 from RO grades and 5 from RA grades.
• The issues:
• 19 members stated that English was their second language.
• The focus groups revealed similar concerns to the previous sessions held in April. However 11 members of staff also felt that their race would prevent them gaining alternative employment. Issues around English being a second language and family ties also featured.

4.3.2.2 The Report on the second set of focus groups is attached Annex 7.

4.4 Community Consultation

4.4.1 Of the local community groups consulted, only one response was received, from the Harrow Association of Disabled People. The group’s main concern related to access to premises and they suggested that any new premises should be the subject of an access audit. The group was unclear whether the stations at Stevenage or the London Stations or local bus services are fully accessible to all disabled persons. They did highlight that someone’s disability may make long journeys difficult.

4.4.2 In respect of the concerns raised by the Harrow Association of Disabled People, most Land Registry services are available Land Registry Online, through telephone enquiries and postal services. Our evaluation, based on the responses is that local community groups have indicated no real concern in relation to the proposed closure of Harrow office or its likely impact on the services they provide.

4.4.3 We discussed the implications of the proposed closure of Harrow Office and its impact on the local community and staff together with the mitigating steps whch we propose to  put in place with Harrow Race Equality Council.  They did not suggest any additional potential measures to take.