The Public Sector Equality Duty and the Socio-economic Duty

Abstract

This chapter addresses the public sector equality duty, which is contained in Part 11 of the Equality Act 2010. Section 149 of the Act consolidates the specific duties in respect of race, gender, and disability, which were previously contained in separate pieces of primary legislation. It extends those duties to cover all of the protected characteristics except marriage and civil partnership (which is protected to a more limited extent). Meanwhile, section 1 of the Act, which is not currently in force, provides for a public sector duty relating to socio-economic inequalities. This requires specified public authorities, in the context of strategic decision-making, to have due regard to the desirability of exercising their functions in a manner designed to reduce inequalities which result from socio-economic disadvantage.