The Equalities Bill Shahana Ramsden

1. The Equalities BillShahana Ramsden

2. Legislation • A Framework for a Fairer Future– the Equalities Bill (June 2008) will establish a single Equality Duty on public bodies • Will replace existing duties – Race (2000), Disability (2004) & Gender (2006) • Introduces new duties – Age, Gender Reassignment, Sexual Orientation, and Religion & Belief • Duty requires public bodies to consider how their policies, practices & services impact on the 6 identified groups

3. Timeline • 3rd Reading in House of Lords • Likely to be in force by October 2010 • New Public Sector Duty to Promote Equality April 2011

4. Examples of changes Recruitment • Practice of irrelevant questions about health and disability outlawed • If a disabled person suffers detriment they can challenge this at employment tribunal Information • Rights to accessible information - explicit • Acknowledgement that lack of accessible information exacerbates inequalities

5. New Single Equality Duty • Think holistically • Remove barriers to independent living • Community wide approaches – jobs, transport, health, social care

6. What is an Impact Assessment? • A way of finding out whether a policy affects different people in different ways • It helps organisations to identify possible and real inequalities that people may experience • It help organisations to think about how to do things differently.

7. Process • Initially screen policies, services or functions • Decide if a full impact assessment is needed • Collect data/ consult • Analyse data/ consultation to assess impact • Make decisions about changes, set objectives and targets • Publish findings • Monitor changed policy, service or function

8. Is there a potential adverse impact of the policy on the following identified groups? Black & Minority Ethnic people Men, women & transgender people People over 60 and under 25 Lesbians, gay men & bisexuals Religious & faith groups Disabled people (inc MH & LD) Answer either Yes, No or Don’t Know in each case Initial Screening- adverse impact

9. Is there a potential positive impact of the policy on the following identified groups? Black & Minority Ethnic people Men, women & transgender people People over 60 and under 25 Lesbians, gay men & bisexuals Religious & faith groups Disabled people (inc MH & LD) Answer either Yes, No or Don’t Know in each case Initial Screening – Positive impact

10. Decide if full impact assessment is needed Question One Could the policy have an adverse impact on equality? • YES you need to complete a full Equality Impact Assessment • NO then go to question 2 • UNCERTAIN, contact EqIA group Question Two Could the policy have a positive impact on equality? • YES – you need to publish a full EqIA • NO – you need to publish a partial EqIA • UNCERTAIN Consult EqIA group

11. Collect and analyse data Collect data • Quantitative • Qualitative • Carry out consultations • Include results of any previous consultations Analyse Information

12. Set targets for changes Identify changes that need to be made Identify knowledge gaps Prioritise Secure senior level commitment to change Action plan for change

13. Publish EqIA report widely • Who is responsible • Plan monitoring process • Collect further data • Report on progress • Review actions Publish findings and monitor change