Red Tape Challenge – Consultation on the Equalities Act until 30th June.
The Red Tape Challenge website is a Government initiative to review 'unnecessary bureaucracy' and reduce 'burdensome red tape' and is asking the public to consider whether the brand new Equality Act 2010 should be scrapped.
Over 5000 people have already responded to the questions about whether to scrap the Equality Act 2010 with a 96% response rate, According to the Government Equalities Office (GEO), saying “do not scrap the Act.”
However, the GEO has been extended the consultation to March next year, in spite of the emphatic response. This is because, among other reasons, in their opinion not enough businesses responded.
The Government Red Tape web site will now have a specific spotlight on the Equality Act from the 9th to 30th June. The spotlight also focuses on six questions on eight specific sections of the Equality Act 2010. So the Equality Act could be retained but weakened with changes to particular sections - for example, without so many strands like race / gender / age etc. or with voluntary codes replacing parts of the Act or with removing the legislation prohibiting discrimination in the provision of goods and services. So even if you already have responded it is important that you do so again to the specific questions. You have until the 30th of June 2011 to respond. If you are running a business, it is worth mentioning this in your response.
Click here for further information from Race on the Agenda (ROTA)
and click here for a link to the Red Tape website to make your comments.
The ROTA website has a draft response template that can be used.
