Section 1 — Equality Act 2010: Public sector duty regarding socio-economic inequalities

Public sector duty regarding socio-economic inequalities 1 1 An authority to which this section applies must, when making decisions of a strategic nature about how to exercise its functions, have due regard to the desirability of exercising them in a way that is designed to reduce the inequalities of outcome which result from socio-economic disadvantage.

2 In deciding how to fulfil a duty to which it is subject under subsection (1), an authority must take into account any guidance issued in accordance with subsection (2A) . 2A The guidance to be taken into account under subsection (2) is—

a in the case of a duty imposed on an authority in relation to devolved Scottish functions, guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers; aa in the case of a duty imposed on an authority in relation to devolved Welsh functions, guidance issued by the Welsh Ministers;

b in any other case, guidance issued by a Minister of the Crown.

3 The authorities to which this section applies are—

a a Minister of the Crown;

b a government department other than the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence Service or the Government Communications Head-quarters;

ba a corporate joint committee established by regulations made under Part 5 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021;

c a county council or district council in England;

d the Greater London Authority;

e a London borough council;

f the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as a local authority;

g the Council of the Isles of Scilly;

h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . j . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . k a police and crime commissioner established for an area in England.

3 The authorities to which this section applies are—

a the Scottish Ministers;

b Food Standards Scotland;

c Keeper of the Registers of Scotland;

d National Records of Scotland;

e Revenue Scotland;

f Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service;

g a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994;

h an integration joint board established under section 9(2) of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014;

i a Health Board constituted under section 2(1)(a) of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978;

j a Special Health Board constituted under section 2(1)(b) of that Act;

k Scottish Police Authority;

l Highlands and Islands Enterprise;

m Scottish Enterprise. n Scottish National Investment Bank p.l.c.;

o South of Scotland Enterprise. 3A This section also applies to the following authorities—

a the Welsh Ministers;

b a county council or county borough council in Wales;

c a Local Health Board established under section 11 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006;

d an NHS Trust established under section 18 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006;

e a Special Health Authority established under section 22 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 other than a cross-border Special Health Authority (within the meaning of section 8A(5) of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006);

f a fire and rescue authority constituted by a scheme under section 2 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, or a scheme to which section 4 of that Act applies, for an area in Wales;

g a National Park authority established by an order under section 63 of the Environment Act 1995 for an area in Wales;

h the Welsh Revenue Authority or Awdurdod Cyllid Cymru. 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6 The reference to inequalities in subsection (1) does not include any inequalities experienced by a person as a result of being a person subject to immigration control within the meaning given by section 115(9) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.