Skip to main content
Menu

Users of the Equality Act 2010 give evidence to Committee

10 November 2015

pc-equality-act-standard.jpg

On Tuesday 10 November the House of Lords Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and Disability hears from Doug Paulley and Jonathan Fogerty who have both used the legislation in court. In a second session the Committee also takes evidence from disability campaigner Paul Breckell, who is Chief Executive at Action on Hearing Loss and Chair of the Disability Charities Consortium.

Witnesses

Tuesday 10 November, Committee Room 4A, Palace of Westminster

At 3.20pm:

  • Doug Paulley, litigant on behalf of himself and other people
  • Jonathan Fogerty, Solicitor and litigant on behalf of himself and other people

At approximately 4.20pm:

  • Paul Breckell, Chair Disability Charities Consortium/Chief Executive, Action on Hearing Loss

Possible questions

Questions in the first session include:

  • Is it right that, ultimately, the only way disabled people can enforce their rights is through court proceedings initiated by them?
  • Do you agree that tribunal fees and the reduction in legal aid make enforcement of rights through the courts more difficult?
  • Should the Equality and Human Rights Commission do more to support litigants from the outset, or get involved in judicial reviews?
  • What do you think of the power of courts to grant injunctions to compel businesses to make adjustments for wheelchair users?

In the second session questions include:

  • Has including disability in a single Equality Act helped or hindered further progress against discrimination?
  • Is greater legal recognition of British Sign Language (BSL) the best way to promote equality for those with hearing loss?
  • How should the cost of making a reasonable adjustment, which in some cases can be significant, be met?
  • What more should the Equality and Human Rights Commission be doing?

Further information

Image: Parliamentary copyright