The National Equality Panel consists of academic experts in inequality. It is chaired by Professor John Hills and will provide the Government with an authoritative analysis of inequality in Britain by the end of 2009.

The panel will gather and examine data over the last 10 years as well the very latest available information and will also commission new research where necessary.

The panel will:

• provide a factual analysis of how equality trends have changed over the last ten years and map out exactly where gaps have narrowed and widened in society.
• investigate how people's life chances are affected by gender, race, disability, age and other important aspects of inequality such as where they were born, what kind of family they were born into, where they live and their wealth; and
• show how these factors inter-relate and reinforce one another.