Equality Bill consultations
The Commission is currently embarking on a consultation process to support implementation of the Equality Bill.
The new Equality Bill is the most significant piece of equality legislation for many years. It will simplify, streamline and strengthen the law, give individuals greater protection from unfair discrimination and will make it easier for employers and companies to understand their responsibilities. It will also set a new standard for those who provide public services to treat everyone, with dignity and respect.
Consultation on non-statutory guidance: employment, services and public functions, and education
In line with our statutory powers, the Commission is producing non-statutory guidance to cover all aspects of the Equality Bill once it becomes law. The main purpose of this guidance is to help people understand the Equality Act and how it will affect them.
We are acutely aware that the guidance should reflect the needs, expectations and language of the people who are going to use it. Many individuals and organisations have already shared their thoughts with us on what good guidance looks like, and what they expect to see in our documents. We are grateful for their input. This next stage – the public consultation – is not only a statutory requirement but it is also an essential part of the drafting process.
Clear and authoritative guidance will be vital to enable new equality law to fulfil its promise; this is your chance to help us get it right.
We have created an online consultation portal that will enable you to comment on any or all of the three draft guides. The portal makes it easy for you to comment on the sections of the guidance most relevant to you or your organisation, and you can chose a version which is most relevant to your needs e.g. as a user or provider of a service, employer or employee.
There are separate consultations on the three draft guides:
- Employment
- Services, Public Functions and Associations
- Education
All consultation on non-statutory guidance will conclude on 16 April 2010
View and respond to our consultation on the draft guidance through our consultation portal.
If you require access to the consultation in an alternative format, please call our Helpline on 0845 604 6610 who will assist in meeting your needs.
If you have any questions about the draft non-statutory guidance consultation please see download our Q&A document.
If you have further queries, please email NSGConsultation@equalityhumanrights.com
Consultation on the draft Codes of Practice: employment, equal pay and services, public functions and associations
On 12 January 2010 we opened the consultation on the draft Codes of Practice for employment, equal pay and services, public functions and associations. This consultation will make sure that the Codes clearly explain the new law and interpret it correctly.
Go to the Codes of Practice consultation >>
If you require access to the consultation in an alternative format, please call our Helpline on 0845 604 6610 who will assist in meeting your needs.
If you have any questions about the draft Codes of Practice consultation please download our Q&A document.
If you have further queries, please email COPConsult@equalityhumanrights.com
Please note, the drafts we are consulting on are based on the version of the Bill brought from the Commons on 3 December 2009. Any amendments made since that date will not be reflected in the draft guidance. Final versions of the guidance will of course be based on the version of the bill that receives Royal Assent and becomes an Act of Parliament, including any amendments agreed by Parliament since December. Later versions of the bill can be found on the Parliament website.