The aim of the new legislation is to encourage a culture of equality. This is intended to improve overly complex existing legislation and ensure every person was clear on their rights and responsibilities. Straightforward and practical guidance will be provided as part of the Bill.
Promoting equality
The Bill will promote equality, address discrimination and enable equality in the workplace. In particular, it will seek to address gender pay differences and age discrimination. The Equality Bill will include a single equality duty for public bodies, and will ensure that they give regard to discrimination and equality in their purchasing functions.
This legislation will apply to England, Scotland and Wales, with legislative consent motions being sought in relation to the powers of devolved ministers to impose specific duties on public bodies. Northern Ireland has separate discrimination law, and will consider whether to take forward parallel legislation.