PSED: specific duties for Wales

This page covers the 'specific duties' for devolved Welsh bodies, which came into force on 6th April 2011. These specific duties support the 'general duty' aspect of the single Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), which took effect throughout Great Britain on 5th April 2011 replacing the disability equality duty.

Note: this page covers the new single Equality Act 2010 duty which took effect from 5th April 2011. For the position before then, see the Disability Equality Duty.

The Public Sector Equality Duty has two parts, the general duty, and the 'specific' duties which are designed to support performance of the general duty.

This page deals with specific duties under the regulations for Wales. The regulations apply to devolved bodies in Wales, as listed in Part 2 of Schedule 19 EqA. The list in Part 2 includes for example Welsh Ministers, county councils and county borough councils, and various educational and health service bodies. (See separate pages on England, plus non-devolved bodies in Scotland and Wales, and Scotland.)

Specific duties for bodies listed in Schedule 19 Part 2 came into effect on 6th April 2011. The regulations are the Equality Act 2010 (Statutory Duties) (Wales) Regulations 2011 (link to legislation.gov.uk), approved by the National Assembly on 29th March 2011. There was a previous consultation (link to wales.gov.uk).

The Welsh regulations are much fuller than those for England. For example, they

require that information about objectives include a timescale and steps to be taken, and that a 'Strategic Equality Plan' be prepared,
provide for enagagment of groups involved, such as disabled people,
contain express provisions about making and publishing equality impact assessments, and
provide for collection and publication of numerous employment statistics broken down by protected characteristic, including disability,
include an express requirement to have regard to equality in public procurement (see next heading).

Further information

Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance for Wales consisting of 8 guides. These guides include both the general duty and the specific duties under the Welsh regulations. See also Guidance on the Equality Duty for the Welsh Public Sector (link to EHRC website).
Equality Act 2010 Wales (pdf, link to Morgan Cole LLP).

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PSED: specific duties for Wales

Further information

Public Sector Equality Duty menu

Main page:

'General duty':

'Specific duties:

Other particular points:

Before 5 April 2011: