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House of Commons

Session 2009 - 10 Internet Publications Other Bills before Parliament

Equality Bill

Equality Bill
EXPLANATORY NOTES
Explanatory notes to the Bill, prepared by the Government Equalities Office, are
published separately as Bill 5—EN.
EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Ms Harriet Harman has made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of the
Human Rights Act 1998:
In my view the provisions of the Equality Bill are compatible with the Convention
rights.
Bill 5                                                                                                   54/5
Equality Bill
Bill 5 54/5
Equality Bill
Contents
Part 1
Socio-economic inequalities
1    Public sector duty regarding socio-economic inequalities
2    Power to amend section 1
3    Enforcement
Part 2
Equality: key concepts
Chapter 1
Protected characteristics
4    The protected characteristics
5    Age
6    Disability
7    Gender reassignment
8    Marriage and civil partnership
9    Race
10    Religion or belief
11    Sex
12    Sexual orientation
Chapter 2
Prohibited conduct
Discrimination
13    Direct discrimination
14    Combined discrimination: dual characteristics
15    Discrimination arising from disability
16    Gender reassignment discrimination: cases of absence from work
17    Pregnancy and maternity discrimination: non-work cases
18    Pregnancy and maternity discrimination: work cases
Bill 5                                                                                                   54/5
Equality Bill ii
19    Indirect discrimination
Adjustments for disabled persons
20    Duty to make adjustments
21    Failure to comply with duty
22    Regulations
Discrimination: supplementary
23    Comparison by reference to circumstances
24    References to particular strands of discrimination
Other prohibited conduct
25    Harassment
26    Victimisation
Part 3
Services and public functions
Preliminary
27    Application of this Part
Provision of services, etc.
28    Provision of services, etc.
Supplementary
29    Ships and hovercraft
30    Interpretation and exceptions
Part 4
Premises
Preliminary
31    Application of this Part
Disposal and management
32    Disposals, etc.
33    Permission for disposal
34    Management
Reasonable adjustments
35    Leasehold and commonhold premises and common parts
Equality Bill iii
Supplementary
36    Interpretation and exceptions
Part 5
Work
Chapter 1
Employment, etc.
Employees
37    Employees and applicants
38    Employees and applicants: harassment
39    Contract workers
Police officers
40    Identity of employer
41    Interpretation
Partners
42    Partnerships
43    Limited liability partnerships
44    Interpretation
The Bar
45    Barristers
46    Advocates
Office-holders
47    Personal offices: appointments, etc.
48    Public offices: appointments, etc.
49    Public offices: recommendations for appointments, etc.
50    Interpretation and exceptions
Qualifications
51    Qualifications bodies
52    Interpretation
Employment services
53    Employment service-providers
54    Interpretation
Trade organisations
55    Trade organisations
Equality Bill iv
Local authority members
56    Official business of members
57    Interpretation
Chapter 2
Occupational pension schemes
58    Non-discrimination rule
59    Non-discrimination alterations
60    Communications
Chapter 3
Equality of terms
Sex equality
61    Relevant types of work
62    Equal work
63    Sex equality clause
64    Sex equality rule
65    Sex equality rule: consequential alteration of schemes
66    Defence of material factor
67    Exclusion of sex discrimination provisions
68    Sex discrimination in relation to contractual pay
Pregnancy and maternity equality
69    Relevant types of work
70    Maternity equality clause
71    Maternity equality clause: pay
72    Maternity equality rule
73    Exclusion of pregnancy and maternity discrimination provisions
Disclosure of information
74    Discussions with colleagues
75    Gender pay gap information
Supplementary
76    Colleagues
77    Interpretation and exceptions
Chapter 4
Supplementary
78    Ships and hovercraft
79    Offshore work
80    Interpretation and exceptions
Equality Bill v
Part 6
Education
Chapter 1
Schools
81    Application of this Chapter
82    Pupils: admission and treatment, etc.
83    Victimisation of pupils, etc. for conduct of parents, etc.
84    Application of certain powers under Education Act 1996
85    Disabled pupils: accessibility
86    Interpretation and exceptions
Chapter 2
Further and higher education
87    Application of this Chapter
88    Students: admission and treatment, etc.
89    Further and higher education courses
90    Recreational or training facilities
91    Interpretation and exceptions
Chapter 3
General qualifications bodies
92    Application of this Chapter
93    Qualifications bodies
94    Interpretation
Chapter 4
Miscellaneous
95    Reasonable adjustments
96    Educational charities and endowments
Part 7
Associations
Preliminary
97    Application of this Part
Membership, etc.
98    Members and associates
99    Guests
100    Sections 98 and 99: further provision

© Parliamentary copyright 2009	Revised 19 November 2009

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