What are the deadlines for revising our equality schemes?

Disability equality schemes

The disability equality duty (DED) required the publication of a disability equality scheme by 4 December 2006. The duty also requires institutions to produce an annual report which summarises the steps taken to fulfil the disability equality scheme, the results of information-gathering undertaken, and a description of what has been done with the information gathered.  

Disability schemes must be revised every three years, taking into account what has been achieved and detailing the areas in which there needs to be focus in the coming three years. For most institutions, the revision of the disability equality scheme is due by 4 December 2009.

The regulations require institutions to revise their scheme 'at intervals of no more than three years, beginning with the date of publication of the last revision of their scheme'. So, for example, if an institution fully revised their disability equality scheme in December 2007 they will not require a further revision until December 2010.

Institutions should not confuse the requirement to revise the scheme with annual reporting on the scheme, which only requires institutions to demonstrate what steps they have taken to meet the general duties of the DED, summarise the results of information gathering and show what use they have made of the information.

ECU has produced a briefing outlining all of the steps required to ensure compliance with the regulations:

• Revising Disability Equality Schemes
  

Gender equality schemes

The gender equality duty required the publication of a gender equality scheme by 30 April 2007. The duty also requires institutions to take steps as are reasonably practicable to produce an annual report summarising the actions that have been taken to implement the gender equality objectives set within the scheme. 

Gender equality schemes must be revised at least every 3 years to take account of progress made and the continued appropriateness of the gender equality objectives set. The revision of the gender equality scheme is due by 30 April 2010.

ECU has produced a briefing outlining all of the steps required to ensure compliance with the regulations:

• Revising Gender Equality Schemes
  

Race equality schemes

The race equality duty required institutions to produce a race equality policy by 31 May 2002. 

The legislation does not make reference to a specific timeframe to produce action plans and revise the race equality policy. However, an institution should take steps, as practical, to publish the results of monitoring each year. 

Single equality schemes

Institutions may decide to merge the gender, race and disability requirements within a single equality scheme. Where this approach is taken an annual report should be published which summarises progress made in relation to each of three equality areas. A single scheme should be revised every three years. 

To comply with the various individual pieces of legislation, a single equality action plan that incorporates disability must cover the period December 2006–December 2009.

Gender equality action plans have to be revised at least every three years from April 2007, the date of publication of the first gender equality scheme. So a December 2009 review of an action plan and scheme would comply with both disability and gender legislation. It would also comply with race equality legislation, as no specific time frames relating to action planning and revision of schemes were included in the race equality duty.

Further information:

• Legislative checklist

• The production of single equality schemes