Overview

The Equality and Diversity (Reform) Bill aims to prohibit affirmative or positive action in public sector recruitment and appointments, and to repeal the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002. This means public bodies would be prevented from favoring certain groups (based on characteristics like age, sex, or race) in hiring processes.

Description

This bill makes two key changes to UK equality law:

Prohibition of Affirmative Action:

The bill makes it unlawful for public authorities to engage in any form of affirmative or positive action in recruitment and appointments. "Affirmative or positive action" is defined as any action intended to benefit a particular group based on age, sex, sexual orientation, race, nationality, disability, religion, or socioeconomic status. This includes setting and pursuing targets for representation of specific groups. Breaching this is considered a breach of statutory duty.

Repeal of the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002:

The bill repeals the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 in its entirety. This Act previously allowed for measures to encourage female candidates in elections.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to significantly increase or decrease government spending. The main impact will be a change in recruitment practices within the public sector, potentially leading to administrative changes but not significant financial implications.

Groups Affected

• Public sector organizations: These organizations will be directly affected by the ban on affirmative action in recruitment. They will need to adjust their hiring practices to ensure they comply with the new law.
• Underrepresented groups: Groups historically underrepresented in public sector employment may experience a negative impact, as measures aimed at increasing their representation will be prohibited.
• Political parties: The repeal of the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 may affect political parties' ability to implement measures aimed at increasing the representation of women in elected office.

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