A powerful new anti-discrimination Bill is to be unveiled by the Government, ushering in the biggest overhaul of equality legislation in 40 years. More than 100 Acts, codes and directives introduced since the Sixties to outlaw prejudice based on race, faith, sex and sexuality will be swept away in favour of a single requirement for employees to be treated fairly. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) claims the new system will be easier for business to comply with. It is examining proposals that could reduce the number of alleged breaches that go to full employment tribunal hearings, resented by businesses as a waste of time and money. At present there are 116 separate pieces of equality legislation in force - 35 Acts, 52 statutory instruments, 13 codes of practice, and 16 European Commission directives and recommendations. They come with 2,500 pages of guidance. Unions have expressed alarm at the pro-business tone, prompting ministers to pledge that the reforms "will not erode existing levels of protection against discrimination".
The Telegraph