Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what form the consultation on section 9(5) of the Equality Act 2010 on caste-based discrimination will take; how they will formulate the questions to be addressed in the consultations; and whether that consultation will be on how section 9(5) can best be brought into effect or on whether it should be brought into effect.

The Government has considered carefully the Tirkey v Chandhok judgment and its implications, including for the caste duty and the Equality Act, and has decided to issue a public consultation on this important and sensitive matter. The consultation will run for 12 weeks from its commencement date. One of the key aims of the consultation will be to obtain the views of stakeholders on the appropriate provision that should be made for caste in the Act.

We are especially keen to hear the public’s views on whether, in light of the Tirkey v Chandok judgment, additional measures are needed to ensure victims of caste discrimination have appropriate legal protection and effective remedies under the 2010 Equality Act.

We will then consider the responses to the consultation very carefully before deciding what further action is most appropriate.