|
15/05/08 - New Equality Bill Planned
| <back> |
The UK Government's legislative programme for the coming parliamentary session contains provisions for a new Equalities Bill. This follows on from the Discrimination Law Review consultation that took place over the summer of 2007 and aims to roll up the different equalities legislation into a single Bill. The UK Government's response to this is expected shortly.
The Bill aims to: make Britain a fairer place where people have the opportunity to succeed whatever their race, gender, disability,age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.
The main elements of the Bill are:
-
Making Britain fairer through a single equality duty which will require�� public bodies to consider the diverse needs and requirements of� their workforce, and the communities they serve, when developing����� employment policies and planning services
-
Making public bodies more transparent. If inequality remains hidden, it can’t be measured and progress cannot be made;����������������������������������������������������������
-
�Improving enforcement;
-
�Allowing political parties to use all-women election shortlists until 2030;�������������������
-
Making the law more accessible and easier to understand, by bringing together nine major pieces of legislation and around 100 other laws in a single Bill.�������������������������������������������������������������������
�
The main benefits of the Bill and related secondary legislation are:To promote fairness and equality of opportunity; tackle disadvantage and discrimination; and to modernise and strengthen the law to make it fit for the challenges that our society faces today and in the future
�
�
� Copyright Scottish Disability Equality Forum 2003-2008
�
| <back> |
|