| Summary
Deep and entrenched inequalities and unfair discrimination persist in the UK in spite of 40 years of anti-discrimination legislation. Reducing these inequalities is not just a moral imperative; it would benefit society as a whole by tapping into the abilities and talents of all people in the UK as well as improving social cohesion and integration.
We welcome the creation of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, which will bring together all equality strands and human rights. Concerns exist, however, about the practical arrangements for its establishment, including fears that it will not be fully ready to take on its new work on its 1 October 2007 start date; that its budget will not be sufficient; and that there may be some loss of expertise among the staff of the three former commissions. Nonetheless, we believe that the CEHR will be an important advocate for social justice and a fairer society, and we welcome its vital role in reducing inequalities and eliminating unfair discrimination.
Equalities legislation has grown piecemeal over the past four decades, and moves towards unifying it within a Single Equality Act have been delayed, raising concern both about how the new Commission can proceed in its absence and about the Government's commitment to bringing about a new, simpler legal framework. We recommend that the Government presses ahead with a Single Equality Bill that removes anomalies in the current law, simplifies it and promotes action to prevent unfair discrimination in our society.
Finally, we recommend that the Government acts to reduce persistent inequalities such as those which affect the life chances of ethnic minority women and people with disabilities and sets out a long-term strategy to achieve equality for all.
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