A4e is ‘preferred bidder’ for Equality and Human Rights Commission helpline service

The Guardian is reporting that A4e is the preferred bidder to take over the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) helpline to advise people of their rights in discrimination cases. A consultation on the EHRC duties last year found that “the organisation [is] providing functions that extended beyond its core role such as operating a helpline and grants programme. Evidence suggests that this work could be done better or more cost-effectively by others, so the EHRC will not be funded for these activities in future.”

The report says that A4e has been “preferred” for the contract over Citizens Advice, Sitel, which ran the disability helpline for the EHRC before it was taken in-house, and Vertex, an international business processing company.

The Home Office are reported to have defended the privatisation, saying: “The new advisory and support service will offer more in-depth support than the EHRC’s helpline. Funding for free legal advice on discrimination will continue to be available through legal aid. The decision to stop funding the EHRC’s helpline and grants system was taken because they did not represent value for money or support the commission in carrying out its core functions.”

This announcement comes after ministers ordered an audit of all Whitehall contracts with A4e (up to £180m a year from government contracts), to run alongside two police inquiries over allegations of attempted fraud involving the company.

A4e in line for major government contract

The Daily Mail reporting that Margaret Hodge, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said: ‘This belies common sense.

The Home Office should hold off from making any decision until the investigations have been completed.’

Fraud-hit A4e is favourite for another lucrative state contract

And benefit claimants are the ones who are labelled as being “crooks”!