Has the Equality Act 2010 worked for disabled people?
A House of Lords Committee set up especially to look at the Equality Act 2010 and its impact on people with disabilities has launched its investigation.
The Committee was set up to look at the provisions of the Act, and also its implementation, in relation to how it has served people with disabilities. The Equality Act 2010 was intended to harmonise all discrimination law and to strengthen the law to support progress on equality. The Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 will ask how effective this legislation is.
Chair of the Committee Baroness Deech said:
“The Equality Act was intended to continue the elimination of all forms of discrimination, in particular against people with disabilities and learning difficulties. But has this happened?
We aim to look at a wide range of areas where the law has an impact on people with disabilities, from how employers cater for their staff, to accessibility of buildings, to whether the enforcement of the law is being carried out as effectively as possible.
With this call for evidence we welcome contributions from everyone who has experience of this issue: from those who have knowledge of this legislation to those who have been directly affected by it, including those with disabilities. My Committee, which brings together a wide range of experience, depends on knowledgeable people giving us the benefit of their expertise. Together we hope to make a real contribution to this important subject.”
Areas that the Committee will look at include:
- The achievements of the Equality Act 2010 in harmonising disability discrimination law.
- Possible gaps in the legislation affecting people with disabilities.
- Reasonable adjustment, and how well this concept is understood and implemented.
- How effective the public sector equality duty has been in practice.
- How different approaches to the law across the UK have worked.
- The division of responsibilities between Ministers and between Government departments.
- The role of the Equality and Human Rights Commission in enforcing the legislation.
The Committee has to report by 23 March 2016.
Written evidence must be received by 4 September 2015.
