EHRC welcomes the new British Equality Bill

27 April 2009

The Act - announced by the leader of the House of Commons and Labour deputee leader Ms. Harriet Harman on 26th June 2008 and passed on 27th April 2009 - wants to tackle disadvantages in several areas such as pay gap between men and women, education for children from poor backgrounds, extra-funds for the health care systems in less wealthy areas, discrimination on the ground of age, public procurement to reduce discrimination in recruitment processes by government departments and provisions for a socio-economic duty.

British discrimination law already covered the grounds of race, gender, age and disability but, with the Equality Bill, disadvantages stamming from the belonging to a social class are included as well. Furthermore the Act provides a clearer, more consistent and single piece of legislation, summing up in itself all the bills that have so far ruled the anti-discrimination field in Great Britain.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which has made a significant contribution to the process of revision and approval of the Bill, has stated that "The Bill will simplify legislation, improve public services, help business perform, extend protection to a wide range of groups that face discrimination and help Britain become a fairer society".

Further information

EHRC Chair, Trevor Philips, welcomes new Equality Bill.

Click here for an Equality Bill briefing by EHRC.

Click here to visit the section of the EHRC website devoted to the Equality Bill