1. The Elimination of Discrimination
General and Specific Duties for Public
Authorities
Nick Graham
Assistant Head of Legal &
Democratic Services
30 June 2009

2. The General Duty
• “A public authority shall in carrying out
its functions have due regard to the
need … to eliminate unlawful
discrimination … and … promote equality
of opportunity”
• Specific Duties – the Schemes

3. Source:
• Sex Discrimination Act 1975
• Race Relations Act 1976
• Disability Discrimination Act 1995

4. Cases

5. Equality Bill
• Extension of general and specific duties to
age, religion, belief, sexual orientation
• Duty to pay due regard to socio-economic
disadvantage in making strategic
decisions

6. Practicalities
• Breadth of duties
• Degree of consideration
• Awareness