Red Tape challenge to equality regulation

The Government's Red Tape challenge website, which gives the public a chance to have their say on the effectiveness of current regulation within the UK, is now focusing on the subject of equality legislation.

 

The Equality Act 2010 has already replaced nine major pieces of legislation and scrapped another 100 sets of regulations in order to lighten the burden of red tape on businesses. The Red Tape challenge website asks what more the Government can do to simplify or deregulate equality legislation.

 

Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone said:

 

"The Equality Act is here to stay. Fairness and opportunity for all remain at the heart of government. But there is always more we can do to ensure that business is not being strangled by red tape.

 

"This government is committed to economic prosperity and reducing unnecessary rules and regulations. We want to hear from individuals, businesses, public sector organisations and voluntary and community organisations about how the Act is working in practice. We want to know whether the Act could be simplified, better implemented, or if certain provisions should be dropped or amended, or whether it should be kept exactly as it is."

 

The government has already taken action to drive fair treatment and equal opportunities without resorting to overly-bureaucratic regulation. The Home Secretary announced last December that the gender pay reporting measures in section 78 of the Equality Act will not be implemented. Instead, the government is working with business to encourage the publication of equality workforce data on a voluntary basis.