Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) Bill (HL Bill 12)

Part 1 Amendments to the Equality Act 2010

1 Providing arbitration services

(1) The Equality Act 2010 is amended as follows.

(2) 5In section 29 (provision of services, etc.), after subsection (10) insert—

“(11) A person must not, in providing a service in relation to arbitration, do
anything that constitutes discrimination, harassment or victimisation
on grounds of sex.

(12) For the purposes of subsection (11), discrimination on grounds of sex
10includes but is not restricted to—

(a) treating the evidence of a man as worth more than the evidence
of a woman, or vice versa,

(b) proceeding on the assumption that the division of an estate
between male and female children on intestacy must be
15unequal, or

(c) proceeding on the assumption that a woman has fewer
property rights than a man, or vice versa.””

(3) In section 142 (unenforceable terms), after subsection (5) insert—

“(6) A reference in subsection (1) includes a term by which parties agree that
20rules shall apply to one or more matters in so far as those rules

constitute, promote or provide for treatment of that or another person
that is a description prohibited by this Act on the grounds of sex.””

(4) In section 149 (public sector equality duty), after subsection (3) insert—

“(3A) The steps involved in removing or minimising disadvantages suffered
5by persons who share a relevant protected characteristic that is
connected to that characteristic include steps to take account of the fact
that those who—

(a) are married only according to certain religious practices and not
according to law, or

(b) 10are in a polygamous household,

may be without legal protection.

(3B) Steps under subsection (3A) should include but not necessarily be
restricted to—

(a) informing individuals of the need to obtain an officially
15recognised marriage in order to have legal protection, and

(b) informing individuals that a polygamous household may be
without legal protection and a polygamous household may be
unlawful.””

(5) In paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 (judicial functions), after sub-paragraph (2)
20insert—

“(3) For the avoidance of doubt, a reference in sub-paragraph (1) to a
judicial function does not include a reference to a person falling
within section 29(11).””

(6) In paragraph 3 of Schedule 18 (judicial functions, etc.), after sub-paragraph (2)
25insert—

“(3) For the avoidance of doubt, a reference in sub-paragraph (1) to a
judicial function does not include a reference to a person falling
within section 29(11).””

2 Arbitration services: consequential amendments

30The Schedule (consequential amendments) has effect.

Part 2 Amendment to the Arbitration Act 1996

3 Validity of arbitration

(1) The Arbitration Act 1996 is amended as follows.

(2) 35After section 6 (definition of arbitration agreement), insert—

“6A Discriminatory terms of arbitration

No part of an arbitration agreement or process shall provide—

(a) that the evidence of a man is worth more than the evidence of a
woman, or vice versa,

(b) 40that the division of an estate between male and female children
on intestacy must be unequal,

(c) that women should have fewer property rights than men, or
vice versa, or

(d) for any other term that constitutes discrimination on the
grounds of sex.””

5Part 3 Amendment to the Family Law Act 1996

4 Court orders based on negotiated agreements

(1) The Family Law Act 1996 is amended as follows.

(2) After section 9 (arrangements for the future), insert—

“9A 10Court orders based on negotiated agreements

(1) A court may issue a declaration setting aside any order based on a
mediation settlement agreement or other negotiated agreement if it
considers on evidence that one party’s consent was not genuine.

(2) A court may make a declaration under subsection (1) on an application
15being made to it by—

(a) a party to the agreement;

(b) a relevant third party.

(3) An application may be made by any other person with the leave of the
court.

(4) 20In deciding whether to grant leave, the court must have regard to all the
circumstances, including—

(a) the applicant’s connection with the party,

(b) the applicant’s knowledge of the circumstances of the party,
and

(c) 25the wishes and feelings of the party so far as they are reasonably
ascertainable and so far as the court considers it appropriate, in
the light of the person’s age and understanding, to have regard
to them.

(5) In assessing the genuineness of a party’s consent, the court should have
30particular regard to whether or not—

(a) all parties were informed of their legal rights, including
alternatives to mediation or any other negotiation process used,
and

(b) any party was manipulated or put under duress, including
35through psychological coercion, to induce participation in the
mediation or negotiation process.

(6) For the purposes of this section, “negotiated agreement” means an
agreement which has been reached as the result of any form of
negotiation, other than mediation, and “negotiation process” is to be
40construed accordingly.

(7) For the purposes of this section, “relevant third party” means a person
specified, or falling within a description of persons specified, by order
of the Secretary of State.

(8) An order of the Secretary of State under subsection (7) may, in
particular, specify local authorities as defined by Article 2 of the Family
Law Act 1996 (Forced Marriage) (Relevant Third Party) Order 2009.””

Part 4 5Amendment to the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994

5 Intimidation of domestic abuse victims

(1) The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 51 (intimidation, etc., of witnesses, jurors and others), after
subsection (10) insert—

“(10A) 10This section applies in circumstances including where the victim of a
domestic abuse offence is assisting in the investigation of that offence
or is a witness or potential witness in proceedings for that offence.””

Part 5 Amendment to the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990

6 15Falsely claiming legal jurisdiction

(1) The Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 is amended as follows.

(2) After section 118 (functions of Treasury), insert—

“118A Falsely claiming legal jurisdiction

A person who falsely purports to exercise any of the powers or duties
20of a court or, in the case of a purported arbitration, to make legally
binding rulings without any basis whatsoever under the Arbitration
Act 1996 (by which that person purports to have jurisdiction to make
such rulings) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction on
indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years.””

25Part 6 General

7 Extent, commencement and short title

(1) This Act extends to England and Wales only.

(2) Sections 1 to 6 come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may be
30order appoint.

(3) This section comes into force on the day on which it is passed.

(4) This Act may be cited as the Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) Act
2015.

Section 2

Schedule Consequential amendments

Arbitration Act 1996

1 The Arbitration Act 1996 is amended as follows.

2 5In section 46 (rules applicable to substance of dispute) after subsection (1)
insert—

“(1A) Whether subsection (1)(a) or (b) above is the case, the tribunal shall
decide the dispute in accordance with the provisions of section
29(11) of the Equality Act 2010.””

3 10In section 68 (challenging the award: serious irregularity), after subsection
(2)(g) insert—

“(ga) failure of the arbitration proceedings to comply with section
6A;”.”

4 In section 73 (loss of right to object), after subsection (2) insert—

“(3) 15This section does not apply to any arbitral award made pursuant to
proceedings which are not in accordance with the provisions of
section 6A.

(4) This section does not apply to any arbitral award that is not in
accordance with the provisions of section 29(11) of the Equality Act
202010.””

5 In section 108 (extent), after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) The following provisions of Part I do not extend to Northern
Ireland—

(a) section 6A (discriminatory terms of arbitration),

(b) 25section 46(1A) (rules applicable to substance of dispute),

(c) section 68(2)(ga) (challenging the award: serious
irregularity), and

(d) section 73(3) and (4) (loss of right to object).””

Equality Act 2010

6 30The Equality Act 2010 is amended as follows.

7 In subsection (2) of section 217 (extent), after “apart from” omit the words to
the end of the subsection and insert—

“(a) section 29(11) and (12) (provision of services, etc.);

(b) section 142(6) (unenforceable terms);

(c) 35section 149(3A) and (3B) (public sector equality duty);

(d) section 190 (improvements to let dwelling houses);

(e) Part 15 (family property);

(f) paragraph 3(3) of Schedule 3 (judicial functions); and

(g) paragraph 3(3) of Schedule 18 (judicial functions etc.),

forms part of the law of Scotland.””