OpenLegislation

Equality Act 2006 in England

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

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act: transfer of functions (with exceptions) (12.10.2007) by The Transfer of Functions (Equality) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2914), art. 3(2)(f)

C2

Act power to amend conferred (8.4.2010) by Equality Act 2010 (c. 15), ss. 203, 204, 216(1)(b), Schs. 24 (with ss. 6(4), 205)

C3

Act transfer of functions (18.8.2010) by Transfer of Functions (Equality) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1839), arts. 1(2), 3(1)(f)

C4

Act transfer of functions (8.5.2016) by The Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/76), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 2 (with art. 9(2))

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  23. 19Groups Repealed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  31. 25Application to restrain unlawful advertising, pressure, &c. Repealed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. Part 4: Public Functions
  99. Sex discrimination Repealed
  100. 83Prohibition of discrimination Repealed
  101. 84General duty to promote equality, &c. Repealed
  102. 85Specific duties Repealed
  103. 86Codes of practice Repealed
  104. 87National security Repealed
  105. Disability discrimination Repealed
  106. 88General duty: exceptions Repealed
  107. 89National security Repealed
  108. Race discrimination Repealed
  109. 90National security Repealed
  110. Part 5: General
  111. 91Repeals
  112. 92Crown application
  113. 93Commencement
  114. 94Extent
  115. 95Short title
  116. Schedule 1: The Commission: Constitution, &c.
  117. Part 1: Constitution
  118. Membership
  119. 1Paragraph 1
  120. 2Paragraph 2
  121. Tenure
  122. 3Paragraph 3
  123. Chairman
  124. 4Paragraph 4
  125. Part 2: Proceedings
  126. Procedure
  127. 5Paragraph 5
  128. 6Paragraph 6
  129. Staff
  130. 7Paragraph 7
  131. 8Paragraph 8
  132. Investigating Commissioners
  133. 9Paragraph 9
  134. Delegation
  135. 10Paragraph 10
  136. Committees
  137. 11Paragraph 11
  138. 12Paragraph 12
  139. 13Paragraph 13
  140. 14Paragraph 14
  141. 15Paragraph 15
  142. Scotland Committee
  143. 16Paragraph 16
  144. 17Paragraph 17
  145. 18Paragraph 18
  146. 19Paragraph 19
  147. 20Paragraph 20
  148. 21Paragraph 21
  149. 22Paragraph 22
  150. 23Paragraph 23
  151. Wales Committee
  152. 24Paragraph 24
  153. 25Paragraph 25
  154. 26Paragraph 26
  155. 27Paragraph 27
  156. 28Paragraph 28
  157. 29Paragraph 29
  158. 30Paragraph 30
  159. 31Paragraph 31
  160. Annual report
  161. 32Paragraph 32
  162. Savings
  163. 33Paragraph 33
  164. 34Paragraph 34
  165. Part 3: Money
  166. Remuneration, &c.
  167. 35Paragraph 35
  168. 36Paragraph 36
  169. 37Paragraph 37
  170. Secretary of State
  171. 38Paragraph 38
  172. Charging
  173. 39Paragraph 39
  174. Accounts
  175. 40Paragraph 40
  176. Financial year
  177. 41Paragraph 41
  178. Part 4: Status, &c.
  179. Status
  180. 42Paragraph 42
  181. Supervision
  182. 43Paragraph 43
  183. Disqualifications
  184. 44Paragraph 44
  185. 45Paragraph 45
  186. 46Paragraph 46
  187. Records
  188. 47Paragraph 47
  189. Freedom of information
  190. 48Paragraph 48
  191. Part 5: Disability Committee Repealed
  192. Establishment Repealed
  193. 49Paragraph 49 Repealed
  194. Membership Repealed
  195. 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
  196. 51Paragraph 51 Repealed
  197. Functions Repealed
  198. 52Paragraph 52 Repealed
  199. 53Paragraph 53 Repealed
  200. 54Paragraph 54 Repealed
  201. Resources Repealed
  202. 55Paragraph 55 Repealed
  203. Report Repealed
  204. 56Paragraph 56 Repealed
  205. 5-year review Repealed
  206. 57Paragraph 57 Repealed
  207. 58Paragraph 58 Repealed
  208. 59Paragraph 59 Repealed
  209. 60Paragraph 60 Repealed
  210. 61Paragraph 61 Repealed
  211. 62Paragraph 62 Repealed
  212. 63Paragraph 63 Repealed
  213. 64Paragraph 64 Repealed
  214. Schedule 2: Inquiries, Investigations and Assessments
  215. Introduction
  216. 1Paragraph 1
  217. Terms of reference
  218. 2Paragraph 2
  219. 3Paragraph 3
  220. 4Paragraph 4
  221. 5Paragraph 5
  222. Representations
  223. 6Paragraph 6
  224. 7Paragraph 7
  225. 8Paragraph 8
  226. Evidence
  227. 9Paragraph 9
  228. 10Paragraph 10
  229. 11Paragraph 11
  230. 12Paragraph 12
  231. 13Paragraph 13
  232. 14Paragraph 14
  233. Reports
  234. 15Paragraph 15
  235. Recommendations
  236. 16Paragraph 16
  237. Effect of report
  238. 17Paragraph 17
  239. 18Paragraph 18
  240. Courts and tribunals
  241. 19Paragraph 19
  242. Intelligence services
  243. 20Paragraph 20
  244. Schedule 3: Amendments Consequential on Part 1
  245. Public Records Act 1958 (c. 51)
  246. 1Paragraph 1
  247. Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (c. 13)
  248. 2Paragraph 2
  249. Superannuation Act 1972 (c. 11)
  250. 3Paragraph 3
  251. House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24)
  252. 4Paragraph 4
  253. Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25)
  254. 5Paragraph 5
  255. Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (c. 65)
  256. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  257. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  258. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  259. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  260. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  261. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  262. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  263. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  264. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  265. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  266. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  267. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  268. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  269. 19Paragraph 19 Repealed
  270. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  271. Race Relations Act 1976 (c. 74)
  272. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  273. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  274. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  275. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  276. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  277. 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
  278. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  279. 28Paragraph 28 Repealed
  280. 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
  281. 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
  282. 31Paragraph 31 Repealed
  283. 32Paragraph 32 Repealed
  284. 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
  285. 34Paragraph 34 Repealed
  286. 35Paragraph 35 Repealed
  287. Estate Agents Act 1979 (c. 38)
  288. 36Paragraph 36
  289. 37Paragraph 37
  290. 38Paragraph 38
  291. Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 (c. 47)
  292. 39Paragraph 39
  293. Employment Act 1989 (c. 38)
  294. 40Paragraph 40
  295. Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (c. 50)
  296. 41Paragraph 41 Repealed
  297. 42Paragraph 42 Repealed
  298. 43Paragraph 43 Repealed
  299. 44Paragraph 44 Repealed
  300. 45Paragraph 45 Repealed
  301. 46Paragraph 46 Repealed
  302. 47Paragraph 47 Repealed
  303. 48Paragraph 48 Repealed
  304. 49Paragraph 49 Repealed
  305. 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
  306. 51Paragraph 51 Repealed
  307. 52Paragraph 52 Repealed
  308. 53Paragraph 53 Repealed
  309. 54Paragraph 54 Repealed
  310. 55Paragraph 55 Repealed
  311. 56Paragraph 56 Repealed
  312. Employment Tribunals Act 1996 (c. 17)
  313. 57Paragraph 57
  314. Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 (c. 49)
  315. 58Paragraph 58
  316. Disability Rights Commission Act 1999 (c. 17)
  317. 59Paragraph 59
  318. Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36)
  319. 60Paragraph 60
  320. Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (c. 24)
  321. 61Paragraph 61
  322. Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 (asp 10)
  323. 62Paragraph 62
  324. Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 01)
  325. 63Paragraph 63
  326. Schedule 4Repeals