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Harriet Harman introduces Equality Bill

Summary

The 'Equality Bill' (HC Bill 85-I & II) was introduced in the House of Commons on 24 April 2009, by Harriet Harman MP, Minister for Women and Equalities.

Divided into two volumes - Volume I: Clauses and Volume II: Schedules - this is a Bill to make provision:

  • To require Ministers of the Crown and others when making strategic decisions about the exercise of their functions to have regard to the desirability of reducing socio-economic inequalities;
  • To reform and harmonise equality law and restate the greater part of the enactments relating to discrimination and harassment related to certain personal characteristics;
  • To enable certain employers to be required to publish information about the differences in pay between male and female employees;
  • To prohibit victimisation in certain circumstances;
  • To require the exercise of certain functions to be with regard to the need to eliminate discrimination and other prohibited conduct;
  • To enable duties to be imposed in relation to the exercise of public procurement functions;
  • To increase equality of opportunity; and
  • For connected purposes.

Explanatory Notes to the Bill, prepared by the Government Equalities Office, have been interleaved into the Bill and are to be found on the left-hand pages. The Introduction to the notes preceeds the Bill in Volume I of this document.

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Law-Making Explained

This is a House of Commons Bill (HC Bill 85-I & II). It is a Bill to reform and harmonise equality law and was introduced into the House of Commons by Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equalities.

Find out more about Bills.

How does it affect me?

If you are interested in the Government's commitment to 'creating a fair society with fair chances for everyone', this affects you.

Further Reading

Find out more about the Government Equalities Office

Read more on the background to the Equality Bill


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