Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to extend the number of public bodies subject to the socio-economic duty under section 2 of the Equality Act 2010.

The Government is committed to commencing the socio-economic duty in the Equality Act 2010. The duty will require specified public bodies, when making strategic decisions, to consider actively how their decisions might help to reduce the inequalities associated with socio-economic disadvantage.

We will consider whether the list of public authorities to which the duty will apply requires updating as part of our research programme and evidence gathering.