Rt Hon David Cameron MP
The Prime Minister
70, Whitehall
LONDON
SW1A 2AS

19 November 2010

Dear David,

Fairness Test

I am writing to you as an ardent supporter of the work of Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson, the co-authors of the Spirit Level and co-directors of the Equality Trust.

As I am sure you are aware, the Equality Trust is calling for the introduction of a Fairness Test - an Inequality Impact Assessment. A number of leading charities are also participating in this campaign, including the Child Poverty Action Group, Save the Children, Barnardo's, Family Action, Gingerbread, Community Links, One Society, Church Action on Poverty, and the Women's Budget Group.

The Fairness Test for deficit reduction decisions would provide an assessment mechanism to ensure that tax rises and spending cuts necessary to cut the deficit do not lead to an increase in inequality of incomes, assets or access to services.

I understand that in response to a specific request from the Equality Trust to back such an assessment tool, you replied two days before the election stating: "we will ensure that fairness is at the heart of our approach to tackling the deficit", but you did not explicitly agree to use the Fairness Test.

I urge you and your Deputy Prime Minister to introduce, in consultation with the Equality Trust and other leading organisations in this area, a comprehensive Fairness Test as soon as possible. The coalition Government has already made a number of decisions which could have a serious negative impact on inequality and I think this is a matter of considerable urgency.

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas, MP, Brighton Pavilion

Read the Prime Minister's reply