Equality bill pushed through during wash-up period

7th April 2010

Disabled employees may benefit from the fact that the equality bill has been passed prior to the dissolution of parliament in the run up to the general election.

This time is known as the wash-up period and the bill - which combines all anti-discrimination legislation in one act - features changes to the utilisation of pre-employment questionnaires, People Management reports.

According to the news source, Darren Sherborne of legal firm Rickerbys recently noted that the banning of these forms provides "welcome clarity" on issues relating to disabled employees.

In addition, young mothers and pregnant schoolgirls are to be further protected against discrimination, while the injunction on civil partnership ceremonies occurring in religious locations has also been lifted.

However, gay and transsexual people could still be refused jobs by churches.

Rachel Dineley of Beachcroft law firm said: "The new law has been a long time coming and the sooner we see the harmonisation of the law in a single act, the better."

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