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Your Rights & Entitlements
How can it help me to know my rights when applying for direct payments?
It is helpful to have information about different Acts that are in place and how they can help you to get the most out of your direct payments package.
This knowledge can be addressed to your Care Manager if you consider youself in need of any of the services listed.
Following is information that you may find useful should you need to question about the services you are receiving or would like to be receiving.
The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons' (CSDP) Act 1970
This Act requires Local Authorities to provide certain services to people who they have assessed as needing them.
Section 2
of it lists various services which Local Authorities have a duty to arrange if they consider a disabled person needs them. The services listed are:
- practical help in the home, e.g. home help
- a radio and/or television and help in using the library
- lectures, games, outings and any help neeeded to take advantage of educational facilities
- help with travelling to any of these or similar activities
- any adaptations, such as a ramp or life, or special equipment needed in the home for greater safety, comfort or convenience of the disabled person
- holidays
- meals, either in the home or at a local centre
- a telephone and any other special equiment needed to use it
The Disabled Persons' Act 1986
The Disabled Persons' (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 reinforces the duty upon Local Authorities to assess people's need for services if asked to do so, requires them to provide people with as much relevant additional information as possible, and to take carers' abilities into account when undertaking an assessment.
Section 4
of it reinforces the duty upon Local Authorities to assess, on request, the needs of disabled people for any services listed in section 2 of the CSDP Act.
Section 8
of it concerns people who are providing a substantial amount of care for a disabled person living at home. It requires Local Authorities, when assessing the needs of a disabled person, to have regard to the ability of his/her carer to continue to provide care on a regular basis.
Section 9
- requires Social Service Departments to inform disabled people receiving any service from them of relevant services provided by the Local Authority and by any other authority or organisation
The provisions of these 2 Acts remain in force even after the implementation of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990
Using the Community Care Act
The Community care Act contactins a number of provisions which can be used to support your case for your Local Authority to support your direct payments scheme.
In general, the Community care Act gives priority to arrange "support for the user in his or her own home", and therefore Care Managers are required to give full consideration to all the alternatives before suggesting a move, whether to sheltered housing or some form of residential institution.
The following extracts from the Department of Health Guidance on Community Care (HMSO 1990) would be useful to draw your care Manager's attention to:
Objectives of Care Management
Care Management will play a key part in achieving the Government;s objectives for community care by:
-
ensuring that the resources are available (including resources transferred in due course from Social Security) are used in the most effective way to meet the individual core needs.
(it should be pointed out to Care Managers that direct payments are an extemely cost effective solution) - restoring and maintaining independence by enabling people to live in the community wherever possible.
- treating those who need services with respect and promoting equal opportunities for all.
-
promoting individual choice and self-determination.
(pg23)
Assessment
It may be possible for some service users to play a more active part in their own care Management, for example, assuming responsibility for the day to day management of their carers may help to meet the aspirations of severely physically disabled people to be as independent as possible. In these circumstances systems of accountability will have to be clearly defined.
(pg25)
More information about the Community Care Act
Here is a link to a website that explains the Community care Act
http://www.infosci.org/MS-UK-MSSoc/pubcca.html
The Right to Complain
The local Authority Social Services Act 1970 Section 7 (as amended by the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, section 50) requires Local Authorities to have in place a procedure for considering comments or complaints relating to the social services discharge of, or failure to discharge, their duties.
It also gives people the right to complain to the Secretary of State for health if they feel their Local Authority has not fulfilled its duty towards them.
A copy of the coplaints procedure should be available from the social services department.
As well as following your Local Authority's complaints procedure, you have the right to approach your own councillor, or the Local Government Ombudsman at any stage.
Acknowledgement: Thank you to GAD (Greenwich Association of Disabled People) for providing the information that was used for this page
and
The Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1987
National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1990/Ukpga_19900019_en_1.htm
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1995/ukpga_19950050_en_1
Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1996/ukpga_19960030_en_1
Housing Act 1996
Local Government and Housing Act 1989
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1996/ukpga_19960052_en_1
Disabled Persons (Independent Living) Bill
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/pabills/200506/disabled_persons_independent_living.htm
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts
General introduction to Government information on disability
Other useful websites include:
The Office for Disability Issues
http://www.officefordisability.gov.uk
The office of the Deputy Prime Minister (building regulations and planning)http://www.odpm.gov.uk
Acts of Parliament
There are a variety of Acts of Parliament relevant to disability issues but the main recent ones are:
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995
The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 "SENDA"
The Disability Discrimination Act 2005
There are other Acts of Parliament, such as the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 etc, but they are beyond the scope of these pages.
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
For further information follow this link to the official government website on disability rights.
Basics of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) became effective on 2nd December 1996.
The basics of the Disability Discrimination Act are that it is unlawful to discriminate against disabled people by:
- refusing to provide a service without justification
- providing a service to a lesser standard without justification
- providing a service on worse terms without justification
- failing to make reasonable adjustments to the way services are provided for disabled people
- failing to make reasonable adjustments to the physical features of service premises, to overcome physical barriers to access
What you need to do
Anticipation - You are required to think about how you will deal with requests from disabled users who wish to use any service you are providing.
You can’t just say ‘no’ if that service is something you offer to others. You need to plan for what you will do if asked for a service you can’t provide: think about when you might be able to provide it in the future, or whether there is an acceptable local alternative.
Less Favourable Treatment - You can’ treat a disabled person less favourably because of their disability.
Reasonable Adjustment - You are required to make reasonable adjustments:
- there are no hard and fast rules
- many changes will be common sense and implemented cost effectively
- changes can often benefit all computer users
- changes may be needed in
- the way some services are offered and supported
- premises - equipment, signage, lighting, access
- ways of communicating with people with disabilities
- staff awareness of the issues facing people with a disability
Literature giving details of the provisions of the Act is available from:
'Disability on the Agenda', Tel. 0345 622633, (A group acting for the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security)
Computers and the DDA
Adaptive and alternative technologies, from simple and free of charge to sophisticated and more expensive, can make a computer accessible by people with disabling conditions of all kinds, temporary and permanent, physical and sensory.
However this can only be done when the alternatives are known about and understood, and when the computer systems in use are set up so that the most common adaptations can be used.
Since many adaptations are low cost, they are likely to be seen as ‘reasonable adjustments’ under the definition of the DDA.
It is likely to be held to be discriminatory, and therefore illegal to:
- fail to make simple adaptation available, such as alternative keyboards and mice where necessary
- fail to arrange a proper assessment of needs and options for someone with a disability who wishes to use your services
- implement an IT strategy or applications that cannot accommodate the most frequently needed adaptations and alternatives for disabled users
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Part 3 – provision of Goods and Services
It is unlawful to discriminate against disabled people by:
- refusing to provide a service without justification
- providing a service to a lesser standard without justification
- providing a service on worse terms without justification
- failing to make reasonable adjustments to the way services are provided for disabled people
- failing to make reasonable adjustments to the physical features of service premises, to overcome physical barriers to access
Under the Act discrimination also occurs when anyone knowingly aids someone to discriminate against a disabled person, or victimises anyone who tries to make use of rights under the Act.
A service provider can refuse to serve a disabled customer so long as they are able to justify such action, and their reasons have nothing to do with the customer’s disability and they would refuse to serve other customers in the same circumstances.
Who is a service provider?
All organisations that provide goods, facilities or services to the public, whether paid for or for free, are covered by the DDA, no matter how large or small they are. That includes:
- hotels, guest houses and hostels
- shops, pubs and restaurants
- estate agents and private landlords
- accommodation agents, councils and housing associations
- property developers, management agencies, investment companies and institutions
- banks and building societies
- mail order or telephone order businesses
- central and local government services
- courts and law firms
- employment agencies
- hospitals and doctors’ and dentists’ clinics
- churches or other places of worship
- sport and leisure facilities
- bus and railway stations
- amenities and places of interest such as parks and historic buildings
- theatres and cinemas
- libraries and museums
- telecommunications and
- broadcasting services
For more information you can read the Code of Practice – Part 3 Access to Goods, Services and Premises.
The code is intended to give practical guidance - particularly for disabled people, employers, service providers and education institutions - rather than definitive statements of the law. However, courts and tribunals must take them into account where relevant.
The Disability Equality Duty affects all sectors of education and comes into force on the 4th December 2006
The Duty aims to encourage institutions to:
- have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity between disabled persons and other persons
- eliminate discrimination that is unlawful under the Act
- eliminate harassment of disabled persons that is related to their disabilities
- promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons
- encourage participation by disabled persons in public life; and take steps to take account of disabled persons’ disabilities, even where that involves treating disabled persons more favourably than other persons
The Human Rights Act 1998 gives further legal effect in the UK to the fundamental rights and freedoms contained in the European Convention on Human Rights. These rights not only impact matters of life and death, they also affect the rights you have in your everyday life: what you can say and do, your beliefs, your right to a fair trial and other similar basic entitlements.
Most rights have limits to ensure that they do not unfairly damage other people's rights. However, certain rights – such as the right not to be tortured – can never be limited by a court or anybody else.
You have the responsibility to respect other people's rights, and they must respect yours.
Your human rights are:
- the right to life
- freedom from torture and degrading treatment
- freedom from slavery and forced labour
- the right to liberty
- the right to a fair trial
- the right not to be punished for something that wasn't a crime when you did it
- the right to respect for private and family life
- freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and freedom to express your beliefs
- freedom of expression
- freedom of assembly and association
- the right to marry and to start a family
- the right not to be discriminated against in respect of these rights and freedoms
- the right to peaceful enjoyment of your property
- the right to an education
- the right to participate in free elections
- the right not to be subjected to the death penalty
If any of these rights and freedoms are breached, you have a right to an effective solution in law, even if the breach was by someone in authority, such as, for example, a police officer.
Exercising your human rights
If you are in a situation in which you believe that your human rights are being violated, it's advisable to see if the problem can be resolved without going to court by using mediation or an internal complaints body.
Where you believe your rights have not been respected and you cannot resolve the problem outside court, you are entitled to bring a case before the appropriate court or tribunal in the UK. The court or tribunal will then consider your case.
Seeking legal advice
Before you decide to take any legal action is important that you seek legal advice.
The Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to help you and Community Legal Advice can put you in touch with advice providers in your area. There are also a number of Law Centres around the UK, which can offer you advice and help on a range of issues.
HMCS (Her Majesty's Courts Service) provides a leaflet, 'The Human Rights Act 1998 – Information for Court Users', which provides information on how to issue a claim for monies owed or damages under the Human Rights Act. It also sets out some important things to consider before making such an application.
Free and foreign language information about the Human Rights Act
A free guide to the Human Rights Act has been produced by the Ministry of Justice. There's also a booklet explaining the Human Rights Act in everyday terms to people with learning disabilities. Copies can be downloaded from the ministry's website, or hard copies can be ordered free of charge by calling 020 3334 3734. The guide to the act is available in English and Welsh, and versions in large print, Braille or on audio cassette are available on request.
Guides to the act in Arabic, Cantonese, English, French, Gujarati, Polish, Punjabi, Somali, Tamil, Urdu and Welsh are available via the links below.
- Human Rights Act - a guide Opens new window
- Download Human Rights Act PDF (PDF, 56K)
- Download A Guide to the Human Rights Act: a booklet for people with learning disabilities (PDF, 351K)
- Download Human Rights Act Arabic (PDF, 290K)
- Download Human Rights Act Cantonese PDF (PDF, 364K)
- Download Human Rights Act French PDF (PDF, 125K)
- Download Human Rights Act Gujarati PDF (PDF, 324K)
- Download Human Rights Act Polish PDF (PDF, 269K)
- Download Human Rights Act Punjabi PDF (PDF, 335K)
- Download Human Rights Act Somali PDF (PDF, 120K)
- Download Human Rights Act Tamil PDF (PDF, 136K)
- Download Human Rights Act Urdu PDF (PDF, 623K)
- Download Human Rights Act Welsh PDF (PDF, 183K)
- Help with PDF files
More useful links
- Incapacity and the law (Crime, justice and the law section)
- Human rights website Opens new window
- Advice Guide - information from the Citizens Advice Bureau Opens new window
- Law Centres Federation
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/ukpga_19980042_en_1
http://www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/en/legalhelp/leaflet07_1.jsp
http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/human-rights.htm
Assessment and treatment
Many people receive specialist mental health care and treatment in the community. However, some people can experience severe mental health problems that require admission to hospital for assessment and treatment.
People can only be detained if the strict criteria laid down in the Act are met. The person must be suffering from a mental disorder as defined by the Act.
An application for assessment or treatment must be supported in writing by two registered medical practitioners. The recommendation must include a statement about why an assessment and/or treatment is necessary, and why other methods of dealing with the patient are not appropriate.
Admissions to hospital
Most people who receive treatment in hospitals or psychiatric units for mental health conditions are there on a voluntary basis and have the same rights as people receiving treatment for physical illnesses.
However, a small number of patients may need to be compulsorily detained under a section of the Mental Health Act.
The Act explains who is involved in the decision about compulsory admission or detention, and the individual's or their nearest relative's right of appeal.
Approved social workers
Approved social workers are specially trained in both mental health and the law relating to it. They are appointed by local authorities to interview and assess people and can make an application for admission where they consider that detention is the most appropriate way of providing care and treatment.
Nearest relative
The Act gives certain rights to the nearest relative which can be used to protect the patient's interests. Usually, the nearest relative is the older of the two people who occur highest in the following list, regardless of gender:
- husband, wife or civil partner
- partner (of either sex) who has lived with the patient for at least six months
- daughter or son
- father or mother
- brother or sister
- grandfather or grandmother
- aunt or uncle
- nephew or niece
Out of the list above, a person who lives with, or cares for, the patient is likely to be regarded as the nearest relative. A person who is not a relative but who has lived with the patient for at least five years can also be regarded as the nearest relative.
The nearest relative has the right to:
- make application for compulsory assessment or treatment of the patient or get the patient's social services in their local authority to ask an approved social worker to consider the patient's case
- be told if an approved social worker applies for the patient to be detained for compulsory assessment
- be consulted about, and object to, a social worker applying for the patient to be detained for compulsory treatment
- discharge the patient
- apply to a Mental Health Tribunal on behalf of the patient in certain situations
- receive written information about the patient’s detention, rights and discharge unless the patient objects
The appointment of the nearest relative can only be changed by a County Court. The nearest relative’s power of discharge can be overruled by the doctor who is responsible for the patient’s treatment, if the doctor thinks the patient is likely to act dangerously if discharged.
Finding out more about the Mental Health Act 1983
Summary of the Act
The most common civil sections of the Act under which patients are compulsorily admitted to a hospital are:
- section 2 : admission to hospital for up to 28 days for assessment
- section 3 : admission to hospital for up to six months for treatment
- section 4 : admission on an emergency basis for up to 72 hours
The mental health charity 'Mind' have an outline guide to the Mental Health Act on their website.
Further information and guidance about the Mental Health Act can also be found on the Department of Health website.
In this section...
Additional links
Global links
The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People identified several key areas where action was needed in order to deliver the vision for equality for disabled people by 2025.
These included early years and family support, transition to adulthood, employment, and independent living.
What is independent living?
Independent living is about disabled people having choice and control over the support they need to go about their daily lives.
The Disability Rights Commission defined independent living as:
"all disabled people having the same choice, control and freedom as any other citizen - at home, at work, and as members of the community. This does not necessarily mean disabled people 'doing everything for themselves', but it does mean that any practical assistance people need should be based on their own choices and aspirations."
(Disability Rights Commission (2002) Policy Statement on Social care and Independent Living).
The Independent Living Review
The Independent Living review was launched in July 2006 to identify imaginative and practical solutions to support independent living for disabled people.
It was a cross-government project led by the Office for Disability Issues. On 3 March 2008 the Government published its Independent Living strategy. The strategy details policy commitments that seek to realise the Government’s vision of equality for disabled people by 2025.
Read about how the Independent Living team carried out the review.
The Independent Living Strategy
The Independent Living Strategy, published in March 2008, sets out Government commitments to improve the life chances of disabled people needing support. On 1 October 2008 - Older Person's Day - the ODI announced that it will be developing and publishing a resource on Independent Living and Older People and a Regional Action and Learning initiative for increasing choice and control for older people with high support needs.
'Full of Life' press release on government commitments (PDF, 2 pages, 20 KB) 
Independent living action and learning sites scoping study
A new report published today by the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) presents the output of the scoping study conducted in 2008 that considered initiatives to demonstrate how to use resources to better promote choice and control.
The scoping study identifies candidate sites, explains the basis on which they were selected, provides an overview of their current plans and challenges, and outlines the main activities required to deliver change.
Download the study and background info on the research publications page.
Download Documents
You can download documents marked with a using Adobe Reader - available free of charge.
You can download documents marked with a 
using Microsoft Word viewer – available free of charge.
http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?LegType=All+Primary&PageNumber=76&NavFrom=2&parentActiveTextDocId=1138202&activetextdocid=1138218
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1958/cukpga_195...
The Equal Pay Act 1970
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1970/pdf/ukpga_19700041_en.pdf
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20031656.htm
The Sex Discrimination Act 1975
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1975/pdf/ukpga_19750065_en.pdf
The Race Relations Act 1976
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20031626.htm
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 & 2005
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1995/ukpga_19950050_en_1
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/Acts/acts2005/ukpga_20050013_en_1
The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20031660.htm
The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20031661.htm
The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/20061031.htm
The Human Rights Act 1998
The information in this section will guide you through the rights that you have to equality and what to do when you experience discrimination.
Age discrimination
It is unlawful for your age to be the cause of less favourable treatment in your workplace or in vocational training. Find out more about age discrimination and how and where it may affect you.
Religion and belief
Your religion or belief, or those of somebody else, should not interfere with your right to be treated fairly at work, at school, in shops or while accessing public services such as health care and housing. Learn more about religious discrimination in this section.
Sexual orientation
Whether you are gay, lesbian, bisexual or straight should not put you at a disadvantage. Find out more about discrimination in the workplace, including harassment, on grounds of sexual orientation in this section.
Disability discrimination
If you have a physical or mental impairment, you have specific rights that protect you against discrimination. Employers and service providers are obliged to make adjustments for you. Find out more, and what to do if you need help.
Gender equality - sex discrimination
Women, men and transgender people should not be treated unfairly because of their gender, because they are married or because they are raising a family. This section explains your rights and how to use them.
Race discrimination
Wherever you were born, wherever your parents came from, whatever the colour of your skin, you have a right to be treated fairly. This section explains the rights that protect you against racial discrimination and prejudice.
Rights in different settings
You can also find out about how your rights are protected in different settings, such as when you are learning or training, working or looking for work, or accessing services like health and social care, housing, the criminal justice system,air travel or transport.
Human Rights
You can find more information about your human rights under the Fairer Britain section.
Legislation
For details of the law, see Key Legislation and other resources of advisors.
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/your-rights/
- Advocacy
- Aftercare under section 117 of the Mental Health Act
- Civil admission to hospital
- Clinical negligence
- Community care and aftercare
- Complaining about health and social care
- Confidentiality and data protection
- Consent to treatment
- Disability discrimination
- Discharge from hospital
- Fitness to drive
- Healthcare and Welfare/Personal Care Decisions
- Human Rights Act 1998
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 - financial decisions
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 - overview and key provisions
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 - structures and safeguards
- Mental Capacity Act: deprivation of liberty safeguards
- Mental Health Act 1983 (Wales) - statistics
- Mental Health Act 1983 - amendments
- Mental Health Act 1983 - definition of nearest relative
- Mental Health Act 1983 - statistics
- Mental health act 1983: an outline guide
- Mental health and the courts
- Police and mental health
- Smoking: Part 1 of the Health Act 2006
- Supervised community treatment
http://www.mind.org.uk/help/rights_and_legislation
This page provides a round-up of all the equality and diversity legislation that public bodies must be aware of, plus external links to the full legal texts.
Civil Partnerships Act 2004:
Provides legal recognition and parity of treatment for same-sex couples and married couples, including employment benefits and pension rights.
Access the Civil Partnerships Act 2004 at the website of the Office of Public Sector Information
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
Outlaws the discrimination of disabled people in employment, the provision of goods, facilities and services or the administration or management of premises.
Access the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 at the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) website
Disability Discrimination Amendment Act 2005
Introduces a positive duty on public bodies to promote equality for disabled people.
Access the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 at the OPSI website
Employment Equality (Age) Regulation 2006
Protects against discrimination on grounds of age in employment and vocational training. Prohibits direct and indirect discrimination, victimisation, harassment and instructions to discriminate.
Access the Employment (Age) Regulation 2006 at the OPSI website
Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulation 2003
The directive protects against discrimination on the grounds of religion and belief in employment, vocational training, promotion and working conditions.
Access the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulation 2003 at the OPSI website
The Employment Equality (Sex Discrimination) Regulations 2005
Introduces new definitions of indirect discrimination and harassment, explicitly prohibits discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy or maternity leave, sets out the extent to which it is discriminatory to pay a woman less than she would otherwise have been paid due to pregnancy or maternity issues.
Access the Employment Equality (Sex Discrimination) Regulations 2005 at the OPSI website
Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulation 2003
The directive protects against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in employment, vocational training, promotion, and working conditions.
Access the Employment Equality (sexual orientations) Regulation 2003 at the OPSI website
Equal Pay Act 1970 (Amended)
This gives an individual a right to the same contractual pay and benefits as a person of the opposite sex in the same employment, where the man and the woman are doing: like work; work rated as equivalent under an analytical job evaluation study; or work that is proved to be of equal value.
Access the Equal Pay Act (Amendment) 1970 at the OPSI website
Equality Act 2006
Establishes a single Commission for Equality and Human Rights by 2007 that replaces the three existing commissions. Introduces a positive duty on public sector bodies to promote equality of opportunity between women and men and eliminate sex discrimination. Protects access discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief in terms of access to good facilities and services.
Access the Equality Act 2006 at the OPSI website
Further information at the Women and Equality Unit website
Gender Recognition Act 2004
The purpose of the Act is to provide transsexual people with legal recognition in their acquired gender. Legal recognition follows from the issue of a full gender recognition certificate by a gender recognition panel.
Access the Gender Recognition Act 2004 at the OPSI website
Race Relations Act 1976
The Act prohibits discrimination on racial grounds in the areas of employment, education, and the provision of goods, facilities, services and premises.
Further information at the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) website.
Race Relations Amendment Act 2000
Places a statutory duty on all public bodies to promote equal opportunity, eliminate racial discrimination and promote good relations between different racial groups.
Access the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 at the OPSI website
Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulation 2003
Introduced new definitions of indirect discrimination and harassment, new burden of proof requirements, continuing protection after employment ceases, new exemption for a determinate job requirement and the removal of certain other exemptions.
Access the Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) 2003 at the OPSI website
Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006
The Act seeks to stop people from intentionally using threatening words or behaviour to stir up hatred against somebody because of what they believe.
Access the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 at the OPSI website
Sex Discrimination Act 1975
The Act makes it unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of sex. Sex discrimination is unlawful in employment, education, advertising or when providing housing, goods, services or facilities. It is unlawful to discriminate because someone is married, in employment or advertisements for jobs.
Access the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 at the Press for Change website
The Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999
The Act seeks to prevent sex discrimination relating to gender reassignment. It clarified the law for transsexual people in relation to equal pay and treatment in employment and training.
Access the Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999 at the Press for Change website
http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=5145524
The capital’s voluntary organisations have been given a welcome boost through specialist advice by http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/ will open in a new window.">Consumer Direct London Opens in a new windowso they can support themselves and others during the recession.
The current economic climate has seen a greater demand being placed on the capital’s third sector organisations as Londoners seek advice on a wide range of issues.
However, the recession is also making it difficult for voluntary organisations to keep up with demand due to an increase of debt worries or re-training needs.
The advice given by Consumer Direct London, which is run by London Councils, explains what resources are available to voluntary groups from partner organisations. Through advice sessions and ongoing guidance, voluntary groups across the capital will become more confident about offering consumer and debt-related advice.
Advice organisations are receiving guidance from Trading Standards, Illegal Money Lending, Financial Inclusion Team and LoTSA Consumer Intelligence and are looking at ways to improve partnerships between those working in the voluntary and community sectors so that Londoners get the best support and advice during these difficult economic times.
Chairman of London Councils, Councillor Merrick Cockell, said. “It is more important than ever that people are well informed about their consumer rights and efficient working practices. I am very pleased that so many people took part in this training session. This training offered invaluable information on how to work better now and in the future.”
Notes to Editors
For more information visit:
http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/networks/consumerdirect/
London Councils runs the Consumer Direct London service on behalf of the Office of Fair Trading.
Consumer Direct London aims to provide universal and consistent advice to consumers and free up trading standards officers to focus on more complex and criminal cases that need further investigation. This service complements the help already available to consumers through the trading standards offered by London boroughs.
- Nationally Consumer Direct has around 400 trained advisors in 12 contact centres across England, Wales and Scotland.
- The information and advice helpline is available on a single national telephone number - 08454 04 05 06 from 0800 – 1830 Monday to Friday, and 0900 – 1300 Saturday, excluding bank holidays and public holidays.
http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/media/current/pressdetail.htm?pk=824&sh...
Members of the Lords finished the fourth, and final day, of report stage on the Coroners and Justice Bill on 29 October.
Amendments (proposals for change) discussed included clauses (parts) 144-171 of the Bill.
- Lords Hansard: Coroners and Justice Bill
- Video & Audio: Coroners and Justice Bill
- Lords Divisions Analysis: view the results of the vote on the Coroners and Justice Bill
- Bills before Parliament: Coroners and Justice Bill
- Passage of a Bill: Report stage (Lords)
- Lords Library Note: Coroners and Justice Bill (PDF)
Further line by line examination of the Bill takes place during report stage and allows Members of the Lords to revisit issues discussed previously. All suggested changes to the Bill can be discussed and votes can take place.
Third reading - the final chance to amend the Bill - takes place on 5 November.
http://news.parliament.uk/2009/10/coroners-and-justice-bill-lords-report...
Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a mandatory entitlement administered by local housing authorities to help fund the provision of adaptations to enable disabled people to live as comfortably and independently as possible in their homes irrespective of tenure.
Eligible work is wide-ranging, providing for access to the home and basic facilities within it, for example: providing ramps, door widening, stair lifts and level access showers. The grant is subject to an assessment of need and a financial means test. In England the current maximum limit for the grant is £30,000. The overall Government contribution towards the 2009/10 grant programme is £158million (see Local authority disabled facilities grant allocations), which has significantly increased since the 1997 allocation of £57million.
Local authorities are responsible for administering Disabled Facilities Grants. For further advice on how to obtain and/or complete an application form, please contact the housing department or the social services within the local authority.
More information for householders looking to apply for help with housing adaptations can be found on the Directgov website (external link).
Otherwise please look at the Policy overview, Frequently asked questions and Publications sections below.
Contact us
If you have a query about Government policy on housing adaptations, then please contact us at: disabled.facilitiesgrants@communities.gsi.gov.uk or telephone on 0303 444 3709.
In this section
- Frequently asked questions about housing adaptations
- Housing adaptations for disabled people: a policy overview
- Local authority disabled facilities grant allocations
- Housing adaptations legislation and statutory instruments
- Test of resources for disabled facilities grant
- Publications on housing adaptations for disabled people
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/supportandadaptations/housingadapt...
These link came through today.
EDF Energy Trust http://www.grantsnet.co.uk/grantdetail.asp?grantID=2392 British Gas Energy Trust http://www.grantsnet.co.uk/grantdetail.asp?grantID=2393 Npower Energy Trust http://www.grantsnet.co.uk/grantdetail.asp?grantID=2394
http://www.w4b.org.uk/
http://www.taxaid.org.uk/index.cfm
http://www.ceacard.co.uk/
http://www.ilf.org.uk/
http://www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Hl1/Help/Socialservices/index.htm
http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk/helpandadvice/supdis/
http://www.dlf.org.uk/?gclid=CLf28MratZYCFQLolAodURmwGA
http://www.benefitsnowshop.co.uk/sitemap/disabled_products.htm
http://www.nhs.uk/Pages/homepage.aspx
http://www.shapearts.org.uk/
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
http://www.taxicard.org.uk/
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/default.aspx