Start date: 1 October 2010

Closing date: 31 December 2010

In line with its statutory powers, the Commission is producing statutory codes to cover all aspects of the new Equality Act. The purpose of the draft Code of Practice on Further and Higher Education is to explain the new statutory provisions to further and higher education providers.

The Code will help to ensure that the law is applied consistently by lower courts and tribunals, and will also help to make the law accessible to a wider audience, such as those who have obligations and those who have rights (or their representatives).

We are hosting this consultation to give you the opportunity to consider and comment on whether:

1. The structure of the draft Code is helpful in guiding providers on which parts of the Act covers different areas of activity.
2. The Code provides the right amount of explanation of the new provisions and the harmonised provisions of the Act.
3. There any sections of the Code that are particularly unclear or hard to follow.
4. The balance between explanatory text and examples is about right.

You can:

• comment on all of the draft Code
• comment on the sections of the code most relevant to you or your organisation
• submit any additional comments you wish to contribute

As we drafted this Code we were acutely aware that it should reflect the needs, expectations and language of the people who are going to use it. This public consultation is not only a statutory requirement but it is also an essential part of the drafting process.

A clear and authoritative Code is vital to enable the new Equality Act to fulfil its promise. This is your chance to help us get it right.

Once the consultation period has ended we will consider submissions to inform the final drafting of the Code before it is laid before Parliament.

A questionnaire is available below but we are also happy to accept submissions in other formats.

Consultation downloads

• Code of Practice on Further and Higher Education: Word version | PDF version
• Download the consultation questionnaire on Further and Higher Education: Word version | PDF version
• You can access a copy of the Equality Act 2010 from the Legislation.gov.uk website (PDF)

If you require access to the consultation in an alternative format, please contact our Helpline to discuss your needs.

If you have any queries about this consultation, please contact:

Finola Kelly
Draft codes of practice consultation
Equality and Human Rights Commission
FREEPOST RRUY-EJHS-CKGT
3 More London
Riverside Tooley Street
London
SE1 2RG

Tel: 0203 117 0318

Email: fhecop@equalityhumanrights.com

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/legal-and-policy/equality-act/equalit...