OpenLegislation

Equality Act 2006

2006 c. 3 · Enacted 16 February 2006 · Extends to England, Wales and Scotland

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 26 October 2024.

C1An Act to make provision for the establishment of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights; to dissolve the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Disability Rights Commission; to make provision about discrimination on grounds of religion or belief; to enable provision to be made about discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation; to impose duties relating to sex discrimination on persons performing public functions; to amend the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and for connected purposes.[16th February 2006]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C2C3C4

Contents

  1. Part 1: The Commission for Equality and Human Rights
  2. The Commission
  3. 1Establishment
  4. 2Constitution, &c.
  5. 3General duty
  6. 4Strategic plan
  7. 5Strategic plan: consultation
  8. 6Disclosure
  9. 7Scotland: human rights
  10. Duties
  11. 8Equality and diversity
  12. 9Human rights
  13. 10Groups
  14. 11Monitoring the law
  15. 12Monitoring progress
  16. General powers
  17. 13Information, advice, &c.
  18. 14Codes of practice
  19. 15Codes of practice: supplemental
  20. 16Inquiries
  21. 17Grants
  22. 18Human rights
  23. 19Groups Repealed
  24. Enforcement powers
  25. 20Investigations
  26. 21Unlawful act notice
  27. 22Action plans
  28. 23Agreements
  29. 24Applications to court
  30. 24AEnforcement powers: supplemental
  31. 25Application to restrain unlawful advertising, pressure, &c. Repealed
  32. 26Section 25: supplemental Repealed
  33. 27Conciliation Repealed
  34. 28Legal assistance
  35. 29Legal assistance: costs
  36. 30Judicial review and other legal proceedings
  37. 31Public sector duties: assessment
  38. 32Public sector duties: compliance notice
  39. Interpretation
  40. 33Equality and human rights enactments Repealed
  41. 34Unlawful
  42. 35General
  43. Dissolution of Existing Commissions
  44. 36Dissolution
  45. 37Transfer of property, &c.
  46. 38Transfer of property: supplemental
  47. Miscellaneous
  48. 39Orders and regulations
  49. 40Consequential amendments
  50. 41Transitional: the Commission
  51. 42Transitional: functions of the dissolved Commissions
  52. 43Transitional: rented housing in Scotland Repealed
  53. Part 2: Discrimination on grounds of religion or belief Repealed
  54. Key concepts Repealed
  55. 44Religion and belief Repealed
  56. 45Discrimination Repealed
  57. Prohibited discrimination Repealed
  58. 46Goods, facilities and services Repealed
  59. 47Premises Repealed
  60. 48Section 47: exceptions Repealed
  61. 49Educational establishments Repealed
  62. 50Section 49: exceptions Repealed
  63. 51Local education authorities and education authorities Repealed
  64. 52Public authorities: general Repealed
  65. Other unlawful acts Repealed
  66. 53Discriminatory practices Repealed
  67. 54Discriminatory advertisements Repealed
  68. 55Instructing or causing discrimination Repealed
  69. General exceptions Repealed
  70. 56Statutory requirements Repealed
  71. 57Organisations relating to religion or belief Repealed
  72. 58Charities relating to religion or belief Repealed
  73. 59Faith schools, &c. Repealed
  74. 60Membership requirement Repealed
  75. 61Education, training and welfare Repealed
  76. 62Care within family Repealed
  77. 63National security Repealed
  78. 64Amendment of exceptions Repealed
  79. Enforcement Repealed
  80. 65Restriction of proceedings Repealed
  81. 66Claim of unlawful action Repealed
  82. 67Immigration... Repealed
  83. 68Remedies Repealed
  84. 69Timing Repealed
  85. 70Information Repealed
  86. 71National security Repealed
  87. 72Validity and revision of contracts Repealed
  88. General Repealed
  89. 73Aiding unlawful acts Repealed
  90. 74Employers' and principals' liability Repealed
  91. 75Police, &c. Repealed
  92. 76Indirect provision of benefit, &c. Repealed
  93. 77Employment Equality Regulations Repealed
  94. 78Crown application Repealed
  95. 79Interpretation Repealed
  96. 80Territorial application Repealed
  97. Part 3: Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation
  98. 81Regulations Repealed
  99. 82Regulations for Northern Ireland
  100. Part 4: Public Functions
  101. Sex discrimination Repealed
  102. 83Prohibition of discrimination Repealed
  103. 84General duty to promote equality, &c. Repealed
  104. 85Specific duties Repealed
  105. 86Codes of practice Repealed
  106. 87National security Repealed
  107. Disability discrimination Repealed
  108. 88General duty: exceptions Repealed
  109. 89National security Repealed
  110. Race discrimination Repealed
  111. 90National security Repealed
  112. Part 5: General
  113. 91Repeals
  114. 92Crown application
  115. 93Commencement
  116. 94Extent
  117. 95Short title
  118. Schedule 1: The Commission: Constitution, &c.
  119. Part 1: Constitution
  120. Membership
  121. 1Paragraph 1
  122. 2Paragraph 2
  123. Tenure
  124. 3Paragraph 3
  125. Chairman
  126. 4Paragraph 4
  127. Part 2: Proceedings
  128. Procedure
  129. 5Paragraph 5
  130. 6Paragraph 6
  131. Staff
  132. 7Paragraph 7
  133. 8Paragraph 8
  134. Investigating Commissioners
  135. 9Paragraph 9
  136. Delegation
  137. 10Paragraph 10
  138. Committees
  139. 11Paragraph 11
  140. 12Paragraph 12
  141. 13Paragraph 13
  142. 14Paragraph 14
  143. 15Paragraph 15
  144. Scotland Committee
  145. 16Paragraph 16
  146. 17Paragraph 17
  147. 18Paragraph 18
  148. 19Paragraph 19
  149. 20Paragraph 20
  150. 21Paragraph 21
  151. 22Paragraph 22
  152. 23Paragraph 23
  153. Wales Committee
  154. 24Paragraph 24
  155. 25Paragraph 25
  156. 26Paragraph 26
  157. 27Paragraph 27
  158. 28Paragraph 28
  159. 29Paragraph 29
  160. 30Paragraph 30
  161. 31Paragraph 31
  162. Annual report
  163. 32Paragraph 32
  164. Savings
  165. 33Paragraph 33
  166. 34Paragraph 34
  167. Part 3: Money
  168. Remuneration, &c.
  169. 35Paragraph 35
  170. 36Paragraph 36
  171. 37Paragraph 37
  172. Secretary of State
  173. 38Paragraph 38
  174. Charging
  175. 39Paragraph 39
  176. Accounts
  177. 40Paragraph 40
  178. Financial year
  179. 41Paragraph 41
  180. Part 4: Status, &c.
  181. Status
  182. 42Paragraph 42
  183. Supervision
  184. 43Paragraph 43
  185. Disqualifications
  186. 44Paragraph 44
  187. 45Paragraph 45
  188. 46Paragraph 46
  189. Records
  190. 47Paragraph 47
  191. Freedom of information
  192. 48Paragraph 48
  193. Part 5: Disability Committee Repealed
  194. Establishment Repealed
  195. 49Paragraph 49 Repealed
  196. Membership Repealed
  197. 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
  198. 51Paragraph 51 Repealed
  199. Functions Repealed
  200. 52Paragraph 52 Repealed
  201. 53Paragraph 53 Repealed
  202. 54Paragraph 54 Repealed
  203. Resources Repealed
  204. 55Paragraph 55 Repealed
  205. Report Repealed
  206. 56Paragraph 56 Repealed
  207. 5-year review Repealed
  208. 57Paragraph 57 Repealed
  209. 58Paragraph 58 Repealed
  210. 59Paragraph 59 Repealed
  211. 60Paragraph 60 Repealed
  212. 61Paragraph 61 Repealed
  213. 62Paragraph 62 Repealed
  214. 63Paragraph 63 Repealed
  215. 64Paragraph 64 Repealed
  216. Schedule 2: Inquiries, Investigations and Assessments
  217. Introduction
  218. 1Paragraph 1
  219. Terms of reference
  220. 2Paragraph 2
  221. 3Paragraph 3
  222. 4Paragraph 4
  223. 5Paragraph 5
  224. Representations
  225. 6Paragraph 6
  226. 7Paragraph 7
  227. 8Paragraph 8
  228. Evidence
  229. 9Paragraph 9
  230. 10Paragraph 10
  231. 11Paragraph 11
  232. 12Paragraph 12
  233. 13Paragraph 13
  234. 14Paragraph 14
  235. Reports
  236. 15Paragraph 15
  237. Recommendations
  238. 16Paragraph 16
  239. Effect of report
  240. 17Paragraph 17
  241. 18Paragraph 18
  242. Courts and tribunals
  243. 19Paragraph 19
  244. Intelligence services
  245. 20Paragraph 20
  246. Schedule 3: Amendments Consequential on Part 1
  247. Public Records Act 1958 (c. 51)
  248. 1Paragraph 1
  249. Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (c. 13)
  250. 2Paragraph 2
  251. Superannuation Act 1972 (c. 11)
  252. 3Paragraph 3
  253. House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24)
  254. 4Paragraph 4
  255. Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25)
  256. 5Paragraph 5
  257. Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (c. 65)
  258. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  259. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  260. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  261. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  262. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  263. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  264. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  265. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  266. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  267. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  268. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  269. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  270. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  271. 19Paragraph 19 Repealed
  272. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  273. Race Relations Act 1976 (c. 74)
  274. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  275. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  276. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  277. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  278. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  279. 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
  280. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  281. 28Paragraph 28 Repealed
  282. 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
  283. 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
  284. 31Paragraph 31 Repealed
  285. 32Paragraph 32 Repealed
  286. 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
  287. 34Paragraph 34 Repealed
  288. 35Paragraph 35 Repealed
  289. Estate Agents Act 1979 (c. 38)
  290. 36Paragraph 36
  291. 37Paragraph 37
  292. 38Paragraph 38
  293. Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 (c. 47)
  294. 39Paragraph 39
  295. Employment Act 1989 (c. 38)
  296. 40Paragraph 40
  297. Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (c. 50)
  298. 41Paragraph 41 Repealed
  299. 42Paragraph 42 Repealed
  300. 43Paragraph 43 Repealed
  301. 44Paragraph 44 Repealed
  302. 45Paragraph 45 Repealed
  303. 46Paragraph 46 Repealed
  304. 47Paragraph 47 Repealed
  305. 48Paragraph 48 Repealed
  306. 49Paragraph 49 Repealed
  307. 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
  308. 51Paragraph 51 Repealed
  309. 52Paragraph 52 Repealed
  310. 53Paragraph 53 Repealed
  311. 54Paragraph 54 Repealed
  312. 55Paragraph 55 Repealed
  313. 56Paragraph 56 Repealed
  314. Employment Tribunals Act 1996 (c. 17)
  315. 57Paragraph 57
  316. Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 (c. 49)
  317. 58Paragraph 58
  318. Disability Rights Commission Act 1999 (c. 17)
  319. 59Paragraph 59
  320. Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36)
  321. 60Paragraph 60
  322. Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (c. 24)
  323. 61Paragraph 61
  324. Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 (asp 10)
  325. 62Paragraph 62
  326. Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 01)
  327. 63Paragraph 63
  328. Schedule 4: Repeals