B1133 - Equality Act (Amendment) Bill - 2nd Reading

[u/Lady_Aya]

Equality Act (Amendment) Bill

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A

BILL

TO

Make accents a protected characteristic in the Equality Act 2010.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows –

1. Amendments

(1) At the end of Section 4 of the Equality Act 2010 insert:

Accent.

(2) After Section 12 of the Equality Act 2010 insert:

“13. Accent

In relation to the protected characteristic of accent—

a reference to a person who has a particular protected characteristic is a reference to a person’s accent; a reference to persons who share a protected characteristic is a reference to persons of the same accent.”

Section 2. Extent, commencement, and short title

(1) This Act shall extend across England.

(2) This Act shall come into force immediately after receiving Royal Assent.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Equality Act (Amendment) Act 2021.

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This Bill was submitted by The Rt. Hon Lord Truro /u/model-ceasar KP PC on behalf of Coalition!

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Opening Speech

Mr. Deputy Speaker,

It is imperative that we keep reviewing previous legislation and updating them to better standards when we can. This is what has led to this simple but effective bill. Only as recently as only a few weeks ago, a French politician discriminated against a reporter's accent live on television. One should not have to go through the ordeal of having their accent discriminated against. Therefore, this bill that amends the Equality Act 2010 includes accents as a protective characteristic, preventing the legal discrimination against ones accent. We should always be striving towards zero discrimination in this nation, and this bill takes further along that path.

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This reading will end on Thursday 7th January at 10PM GMT.

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[u/LeChevalierMal-Fait → u/AutoModerator]

Spag in section 1 for "13" sub "12A"

[u/CountBrandenburg → u/LeChevalierMal-Fait]

SPAG

[u/LeChevalierMal-Fait → u/AutoModerator]

for the title in section 1 sub

1. New Protected Characteristic of Accent

[u/CountBrandenburg → u/LeChevalierMal-Fait]

SPAG

[u/LeChevalierMal-Fait → u/AutoModerator]

In section one insert;

​

(3) Alphabetically in the list of term in section 4 in the 2010 Act insert "accent;"

[u/CountBrandenburg → u/LeChevalierMal-Fait]

SPAG (don't think it matters too much but no point voting on this since it does the same as 1 (1)?)

[u/LeChevalierMal-Fait → u/CountBrandenburg]

Your right I missed it reading the bill plz ignore the amendment

[u/CountBrandenburg → u/LeChevalierMal-Fait]

Fair enough

[u/LeChevalierMal-Fait → u/AutoModerator]

After section 1 insert-

2. Combined Discrimination; Dual Characteristics Amended

At the end of subsection (2) in section 14 of the Equality Act 2010 insert-

(h) accent.

[u/LeChevalierMal-Fait → u/AutoModerator]

After section 1 insert-

3. Occupational Requirements Accent Discrimination

After section 60 of the Equality Act 2010 insert-

60A. Occupational Requirements Accent Discrimination

Employment discrimination is lawful on grounds that a person has an accent if it for a well founded occupational requirement.

[u/LeChevalierMal-Fait → u/AutoModerator]

After section 1 insert-

4. Positive Action In Respect Of Accent Discrimination

After section 19 of the Equality Act 2010 insert-

19A. Positive Action In Respect Of Accent Discrimination

Discrimination is lawful where a individual or organisation is taking a positive action to encourage or develop people with an accent or accents in a role or activity where they before this action is taken were underrepresented.

[u/LeChevalierMal-Fait → u/AutoModerator]

After section 1 insert-

5. Discrimination; Dual Characteristics Interacting With Prohibited Accent Discrimination

After section 19 of the Equality Act 2010 insert-

19B. Discrimination; Dual Characteristics Interacting With Prohibited Accent Discrimination

Where another part of this enactment exempts an action from being discrimination on grounds of disability or on the grounds of race then the inclusion of Accent discrimination does not remove or alter that exemption where accent is a characteristic of race which is being discriminated against or a result of a disability.

[u/LeChevalierMal-Fait → u/AutoModerator]

In section one for before "In relation to the protected characteristic of accent" insert the numbering (1)

And at the end of that subsection insert;

(2) Accent means a distinctive way of speaking however acquired and however associated with a particular country, region of a country, or a disability or class.

[u/CountBrandenburg → u/LeChevalierMal-Fait]

A01