On 8th April the Equality Bill received Royal Assent and became the Equality Act 2010. The Act brings disability, sex, race and other grounds of discrimination within one piece of legislation, and also makes changes to the law. The Act does not apply to Northern Ireland.

Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman's flagship Equality Bill has been sent for Royal Assent. MPs approved without a vote peers' amendments on Tuesday 6th April 2010. The Equality Bill combines existing anti-discrimination legislation into a single equality Act.

Summary of the Bill

The Bill will harmonise and in some cases extend existing discrimination law covering the 'protected characteristics' of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. It will address the impact of recent case law which is generally seen as having weakened discrimination protection, and harmonise provisions defining indirect discrimination.

Final amendments were made to the Bill during the third reading in the House of Lords on 23 March 2010. The House of Commons will consider the Lords amendments to this Bill on 6 April 2010, with the Bill scheduled to become law in this session of Parliament.

Is your business committed to Diversity & Equality?

Line by line examination of the Equality Bill, a major piece of legislation which aims to improve and simplify laws on discrimination and equal treatment, took place on 2 March 2010 at Report Stage in the House of Lords.

The third reading - a final chance to amend the Bill - is scheduled for 23 March 2010. The Equality Bill is scheduled to become law during this session of Parliament.

Chartered Management Institute's (CMI) latest research report, published in partnership with NESTA and City University, explores the changing role of innovation in the recession.

It shows that managers are committed to more innovative ways of working - 70 per cent say the recession will reinforce their focus on innovation - yet it warns of distinct challenges ahead.