Overview

The progress of the Equality Bill is under close scrutiny. With a commitment to ensure the Bill receives royal assent by the end of this Parliament and a plan it to implement the first of its provisions from October 2010, swift progress needs to be made. The Bill is currently going through debates in the House of Lords and there is a sense that some of the more controversial provisions might well be swept aside in an effort to ensure that the core provisions (particularly those which find favour and are consolidating and streamlining the existing discrimination laws) do get implemented.
There are some key provisions:

- Clause 1, which introduces the concept of the socio-economic duty (to reduce disadvantage caused by social/family background or economic resources background) and places a new responsibility on a narrow list of public bodies, appears likely to remain. In future these bodies will have responsibilities to address such disadvantage. However there is much more guidance and information which will be required before this provision comes into effect and for the new duty to have any impact. It will be the responsibility of the listed public bodies (such as government departments and local authorities) to take into account the need to reduce socio-economic disadvantage in taking strategic decisions. In the Lords, there was much debate of exactly what this meant and how it is to be achieved. Hopefully the future guidance will help.
- The plans for a single public sector duty which extends beyond the existing three areas (race, disability and gender) to encompass all areas of protection continue to progress.
This will not be an immediate new responsibility but will be introduced in 2011, at the same time as the socio–economic duty. It means that going forward, public bodies will need to address how they eliminate discrimination and promote equality in new areas such as religion and belief, sexual orientation and age. The consultation on this aspect is still ongoing.

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