Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2026 to Question 9022 on Education: Equality, whether the socio-economic duty will apply to policies and decisions on Civil Service recruitment.

A full list of public bodies subject to the SED will be published upon commencement. The Socio-Economic Duty (SED) will embed consideration of socio-economic disadvantage into public sector decision-making. It will require specified public authorities to have due regard to how their strategic decisions can reduce inequalities of outcomes associated with socio-economic disadvantage.

We are currently working towards commencement, which includes drafting statutory guidance that will clarify how the duty can be applied effectively. As part of this process, we are working with listed public bodies to ensure the guidance supports them effectively.