header-logo header-logo

Public Law Update

23 March 2007 / Ulele Burnham , Jamie Burton
Issue: 7265 / Categories: Features , Public , Profession , Human rights
printer mail-detail

Two-tiered duty to promote race equality, Race Relations Act 1976, S71, Legal necessity for proper consultation

RACE EQUALITY

The celebrated Macpherson report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, was a significant event in the development of legal rules designed to take account of systemic racial discrimination. One of the legislative responses to Sir William Macpherson’s well-publicised coinage of the term ‘institutional racism’ was the two-tiered duty placed on public authorities to promote race equality.

Statutory duties

The general duty, found in the Race Relations Act 1976 (RRA 1976), s 71(1), is an obligation for all specified public bodies to have due regard to the need to “eliminate unlawful racial discrimination…and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups”.

The specific duty, placed upon a further category of public authorities specified by the secretary of state, requires such bodies to make procedural arrangements, eg the publication of a race equality scheme detailing the arrangements for assessing and monitoring the likely impact

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

Kate Gaskell, CEO of Flex Legal, reflects on chasing her childhood dreams underscores the importance of welcoming those from all backgrounds into the profession

Dorsey & Whitney—Jonathan Christy

Dorsey & Whitney—Jonathan Christy

Dispute resolution team welcomes associate in London

Winckworth Sherwood—Kevin McManamon

Winckworth Sherwood—Kevin McManamon

Special education needs and mental capacity expert joins as partner

NEWS
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School highlights a turbulent end to 2025 in the civil courts, from the looming appeal in Mazur to judicial frustration with ever-expanding bundles, in his final NLJ 'The insider' column of the year
Antonia Glover of Quinn Emanuel outlines sweeping transparency reforms following the work of the Transparency and Open Justice Board in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll