11/07/2011

Subject to parliamentary approval, the duties will come into force before the summer recess. The regulations require public authorities in Great Britain to publish:

• Equality objectives, at least every four years, by April 2012
• Information to demonstrate their compliance with the Equality Duty, at least annually

Although the Equality Duty is Britain-wide, Scotland and Wales are able to set their own specific duties. The specific duties in Wales came in to force on 6 April 2011 and specific duties that will apply to Scottish public bodies are still being decided.

Inclusion London, along with many other equality organisations, has been critical of the minimalist nature of these specific duties. The duties under the Disability Discrimination Act were precise tools to drive change and help authorities to understand how they may be discriminating and how proactively to employ people, deliver services and do work in ways that were likely to produce more equal outcomes. We fear the new duties proposed by the Coalition Government will be much less effectively in doing these things.

A lot of work by disabled people’s organisations and others will be needed to get the most of the duties – particularly as they coincide with the biggest ever cuts in funding to public service and the welfare state.

You can download a copy of the regulations from the following link:. www.equalities.gov.uk/equality_act_2010

You can read more about what Inclusion London said about the government’s new proposed duties from our the 'What future for equality duties?' article on policy page.