The Public Sector Equality Duty

The Public Sector Equality Duty (Section 149)

The previous public sector equality duty only applied to race, disability and gender. The new single equality duty requires public bodies to have due regard to the need to:

• eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited under the Act
• advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations across all the protected characteristics with the exception of marriage and civil partnership.
• advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations across all the protected characteristics with the exception of marriage and civil partnership.
• Ministers are also empowered under s.153 to impose specific duties upon public authorities for the purpose of enabling better performance of the general duty contained in S.149.

Additionally, S.155 empowers ministers to impose specific duties on a public authority 'in connection with its public procurement functions'. This power is designed to encourage local authorities to use procurement to encourage equality more consistently.