The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policymakers.

Every Citizens Advice Bureau is a registered charity reliant on trained volunteers and funds to provide these vital services for local communities.

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Citizens Advice response to new proposals for the Equality Bill, presented to the British Parliament by Equality Minister Harriet Harman

30-06-2008

Ali Harris, Programme Manager, Diversity and Equality:

“Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales have seen a significant increase in dealing with discrimination cases since 2005, and witness daily how inequality wrecks people's lives. We therefore welcome today's announcement on the Equality Bill, and in particular, the outlawing of age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services. We also welcome the proactive measures that will enable employers to address entrenched discrimination and diversify their workforce in a reasonable way.

We also agree with moves to streamline existing public sector duties to include gender reassignment, age, sexual orientation and religion or belief, in addition to race, gender and disability. However, we now look to the government to ensure the unified duty enables local authorities to vigorously promote equality.

We also believe that enforcement powers still need to be strengthened beyond the measures proposed and recommend looking at a wider range of enforcement options such as the use of injunctions and increasing the role of regulators (such as the Audit Commission) in enforcing equality laws.

Many non represented workers face appalling discrimination and working conditions and many people are discriminated against by service providers. Therefore, in order for the new law to be effective people need access to advice and representation, widening the scope of legal aid for tribunals. This will require a greater investment by the government both in unions and independent advice agencies".

Notes to editors on Citizens Advice

1. The Citizens Advice service is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales; www.citizensadvice.org.uk
2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
3. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at over 3,300 locations across England and Wales.
4. Advice and information  www.adviceguide.org.uk
5. Volunteer hotline 08451 264264 (local rate)
6. Citizens Advice Guide to your rights, second edition: January 2008 - over 600 pages of practical, independent CAB advice. An invaluable resource for any bookshelf - available from all good bookshops; price £11.99; ISBN: 9780141034089

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