The Single Equality Bill

Wednesday 8th July 2009, Grange Holborn Hotel, London, 08:50 - 16:15

The Single Equality Bill: Developing a Fairer Britain for All

“Equality is vital for a modern economy, so that nobody is excluded and it can draw on the widest possible pool of talent, with everybody contributing. That’s why we will bring forward our tough new Equality Bill to make Britain fairer.”

Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC MP, 3rd December 2008

Overview

Despite the impact of the international economic down-turn, the government remains committed to developing a fairer and more equal society in Great Britain. Following two reviews and an extensive period of consultation, the government will very soon publish the Single Equality Bill.

The publication of the Single Equality green paper in December 2008 was considered by its supporters to be a landmark to end discrimination. It was hoped that by addressing both the causes and consequences of disadvantage the resultant Single Equality Act will accelerate the processes to modernise Britain’s systems, institutions and prevailing social attitudes. However, to what extent will the provisions contained in the Bill produce an evident and lasting change to the lives of ordinary people? How clear are the provisions in the bill, and how easy will they be to enforce? To what extent will the provisions in the bill assist the government to achieve its target on equality as set out in Public Service Agreement 15?

The aim of the Single Equality Bill is to make Britain a fairer place to live and work by simplifying – and adding provisions to extend protection where it did not previously exist or is inadequate – and thereby improving access to the law by bringing together over a hundred laws and nine major pieces of legislation in to one bill. The bill places a duty on all public bodies to “…consider the diverse needs and requirements of their workforce, and the communities they serve”.

Equality of treatment before the law is an essential component of a modern democracy. However, acts of discrimination by one group of people against another prevent a democratic system from functioning effectively; discriminatory acts, attitudes and processes deny groups of people access to power, resources and influence to fulfill their potential and to participate more fully in their communities and society.

Agenda

This forum will provide delegates with the opportunity to examine key provisions of the Bill and to discuss whether the provisions in the Bill are comprehensive, clear, proportionate, enforceable and sufficiently rigorous.

08:50	Registration and Coffee
09:20	Chair’s Welcome Address Ulele Burnham, Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers
09:30	The Single Equality Bill: Towards A Fairer Society Context: deep rooted problems with long history Key provisions of the bill and associated package Improve our understanding: further research that has been commissioned Jonathan Rees, Director General, Government Equalities Office
09:50	From Equality to Fairness The Conservatives’ approach to equality legislation Mark Harper MP, Shadow Minister for Disabled People
10:10	Equality Duty: Clear, Consistent, Proportionate and Transparent? Delivering fairness for all in practice: The purpose clause - is there a need for one to be included in the Bill? The Equality Duty: a new contract with the public: Covers sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age, and religion or belief How will it work in practice? Enforcement, targets and performance monitoring: using the bill as a tool for change And what are the implications of the wider equality duty? Phil McCarvill, Head of Public Sector Duties, Equality and Human Rights Commission
10:35	Coffee Break and Networking
11:00	Positive Futures: Protecting the Rights of All UK Citizens The changing face of the UK: the Single Equality Bill, the LGBT communities and wider society Extending anti-discrimination protection to people who have undergone gender reassignment Outlawing sexual orientation harassment and gender reassignment harassment in the provision of goods, facilities and services EU context : European Gender Directive Raising awareness and changing behaviour: thoughts for the future Mark Reedman, Chief Executive, Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Voluntary and Community Organisations
11:20	Tackling Inequality, Discrimination and Prejudice Against Disabled People Disability equality 2025: how will the Equality Bill bring about equality more quickly? Extending equal opportunities to disabled people: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Single Equality Public Sector Duty vs. Disability Equality Duty Does the Bill go far enough? Ruth Scott, Director, Policy & Campaigns, Scope
11:40	Questions and Answers Session
12:40	Lunch and Networking
13:45	The Equality Bill: Promoting Equality Local government: how will the draft provisions in the Bill affect recruitment, retention and retraining both in policy and practice? Differential treatment to meet specific needs: is Positive Action a recipe for litigation? Procurement procedures: tightening compliance and scrutiny structures Suzanne Bond, Interim Principal Lawyer for Children and Community Services, London Borough of Hackney, and Chair, Solicitors in Local Government
14:05	Gender Equality in the Workplace Transparency and behaviour change: Equality data – mandatory collection of pay bands data In public policy Pay secrecy – ‘non-disclosure’ clauses Improving the pay of lower paid jobs Gender equality – extending flexible working to all workers Flexibility to allow for corrective action - transitional payment arrangements Tackling the gender pay gap: are stronger measures required? Examples from the EU Dr Katherine Rake, Director, Fawcett Society
14:25	Questions and Answers Session
14:45	Strengthening Age Discrimination Legislation Everyday examples of age discrimination: Purchasing goods, services or facilities In public policy Outlawing age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services: Draft European directive on goods, facilities and services Beyond outlawing policies, practices and procedures – need to change mindsets Eradicating ageism Direct and associated discrimination Promote independent living: employment regulations and implications for: Volunteering Widening education and non-accredited, informal learning Gender pay gap and pensions Housing and social care costs Robert Brown, Senior Policy Officer, Human Rights, Help the Aged
15:05	A Framework For A Fair Society: Enforcement Provisions in the Single Equality Bill Compliance and enforcement is key to if the Bill is to improve the everyday, lived reality of ordinary people Access to advice and legal representation: extending and supporting the role of trade union equality officials Reducing the gender pay gap and representative action Employment tribunals to make recommendations that will affect the workplace not just the claimant Scope for further work and inclusions in the Bill Sarah Veale, Head, Equality and Employment Rights Department, Trade's Union Congress
15:25	Questions and Answers Session
16:10	Chair's Summary and Conclusion's
16:15	Close

*programme subject to change without notice*

Audience

Delegates will include equality officers, procurement officers, solicitors from the public and private sectors, elected members, police, training and HR officers, teachers; policy and strategy officers, members of chambers of commerce, NHS representatives, CBI, trade unions representatives, think-tanks, universities and colleges.