Equality Bill to become law

Just in the nick of time, MPs approved the House of Lords’ amendments to the Equality Bill meaning that it has now become law ahead of the election.

The bill is expected to receive Royal Assent from the Queen shortly, with provisions in the Bill beginning to take effect in the autumn.

The new legislation, first introduced to the House of Commons almost a year ago, brings together many of the existing equality laws under one umbrella, which will help to make individuals’ rights clearer to themselves and their employers. Overall, unfair treatment on the grounds of race, gender, age and disability will be protected against under the legislation.

Key provisions introduced in the bill include:

• The introduction of a new public sector duty to consider reducing inequalities
• Putting a new integrated Equality Duty on public bodies
• Increased positive action measures
• A ban on age discrimination in provision of goods, facilities, services and public functions
• A requirement for political parties to publish information on the diversity of its candidate selections
• Adding a power to prohibit caste discrimination as part of race discrimination

Full information on the bill’s passage through parliament is available on the Equalities Office website.