Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to promote the protections enshrined in the Equality Act 2010 for people who experience discrimination as a result of facial (a) differences and (b) disfigurement.

People with severe disfigurements are treated as having a disability for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010 and therefore benefit from the same protections from discrimination as any other person with a disability.

Facial conditions not amounting to disfigurements are not covered by the Equality Act 2010 unless they have a substantial and long-term adverse effect on an individual’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities.

The Government provides guidance notes for people who believe they have suffered disability related discrimination.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/570382/Equality_Act_2010-disability_definition.pdf, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission provides a range of guidance on disability https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/disability-advice-and-guidance .

In addition, the Equality Advisory and Support Service provides free advice and support to individuals with any discrimination concerns.