Proposed single equality bill must not erode existing protection, warns London Councils

Government proposals for a single equality bill must not erode the existing levels of protection on race, gender and disability already offered in the public sector, London Councils warned today. 

There are concerns that instead of strengthening areas that are not presently covered by anti-discrimination legislation, current government proposals may lead to a watering down of existing duties to ensure consistency across the board.

The warning is made in the organisation's response to the government green paper, A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill, which was approved today at London Councils Leaders' Committee. 

London Councils has welcomed the government's commitment to introduce a single equality bill, which aims to create a more clear and unified approach to anti-discrimination legislation.

However, the organisation believes that the government's proposals fail to address all the existing gaps in the current legislation and calls on the government to bolster its approach in various areas, in particular around ensuring equal pay.

London's local authority leaders would also like the green paper to propose stronger enforcement powers for councils to ensure the duties are upheld - and address the private sector's failure to tackle discrimination and promote equality.

Speaking after Leaders' Committee, London Councils' chair of equalities, Councillor Anjana Patel, said:

"The current patchwork of anti-discrimination legislation is incomplete, inconsistent and overly complex, and is in dire need of updating. The promise of a single comprehensive Equality Act provides a historic opportunity to ensure the delivery of real equality for all - irrespective of ethnicity, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation or belief.

"However, there is a real danger that the government's current proposals will actually weaken some existing levels of protection currently afforded through public sector equalities duties. If anything we should be seeking to strengthen the weaker areas so that they are on a par with existing legislation, not settling on a half-way house between the two."

Notes to editors

For the final response approved today by the London Councils Leaders' Committee, please visit: www.londoncouncils.gov.uk

For a copy of the green paper, A Framework for Fairness, please visit:
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/ Opens in a new window

Leaders' Committee is London Councils main decision-making forum, which comprises the leaders of all the capital's boroughs.

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