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Equality Act 2010

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Equality Act 2010, Part 1 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 28 March 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

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Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

Part 1E+W+SDetermination of disability

ImpairmentE+W+S

1E+W+SRegulations may make provision for a condition of a prescribed description to be, or not to be, an impairment.

Commencement Information

I1Sch. 1 para. 1 wholly in force at 1.10.2010; para. 1 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 216; para. 1 in force for certain purposes at 6.7.2010 by S.I. 2010/1736, art. 2, Sch.; Sch. 1 in force at 1.10.2010 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(1)(2)(g) (with art. 15)

Long-term effectsE+W+S

2(1)The effect of an impairment is long-term if—E+W+S

(a)it has lasted for at least 12 months,

(b)it is likely to last for at least 12 months, or

(c)it is likely to last for the rest of the life of the person affected.

(2)If an impairment ceases to have a substantial adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities, it is to be treated as continuing to have that effect if that effect is likely to recur.

(3)For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2), the likelihood of an effect recurring is to be disregarded in such circumstances as may be prescribed.

(4)Regulations may prescribe circumstances in which, despite sub-paragraph (1), an effect is to be treated as being, or as not being, long-term.

Commencement Information

I2Sch. 1 para. 2 wholly in force at 1.10.2010; para. 2 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 216; para. 2 in force for certain purposes at 6.7.2010 by S.I. 2010/1736, art. 2, Sch.; Sch. 1 in force at 1.10.2010 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(1)(2)(g) (with art. 15)

Severe disfigurementE+W+S

3(1)An impairment which consists of a severe disfigurement is to be treated as having a substantial adverse effect on the ability of the person concerned to carry out normal day-to-day activities.E+W+S

(2)Regulations may provide that in prescribed circumstances a severe disfigurement is not to be treated as having that effect.

(3)The regulations may, in particular, make provision in relation to deliberately acquired disfigurement.

Commencement Information

I3Sch. 1 para. 3 wholly in force at 1.10.2010; para. 3 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 216; para. 3 in force for certain purposes at 6.7.2010 by S.I. 2010/1736, art. 2, Sch.; Sch. 1 in force at 1.10.2010 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(1)(2)(g) (with art. 15)

Substantial adverse effectsE+W+S

4E+W+SRegulations may make provision for an effect of a prescribed description on the ability of a person to carry out normal day-to-day activities to be treated as being, or as not being, a substantial adverse effect.

Commencement Information

I4Sch. 1 para. 4 wholly in force at 1.10.2010; para. 4 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 216; para. 4 in force for certain purposes at 6.7.2010 by S.I. 2010/1736, art. 2, Sch.; Sch. 1 in force at 1.10.2010 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(1)(2)(g) (with art. 15)

Effect of medical treatmentE+W+S

5(1)An impairment is to be treated as having a substantial adverse effect on the ability of the person concerned to carry out normal day-to-day activities if—E+W+S

(a)measures are being taken to treat or correct it, and

(b)but for that, it would be likely to have that effect.

(2)Measures” includes, in particular, medical treatment and the use of a prosthesis or other aid.

(3)Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply—

(a)in relation to the impairment of a person's sight, to the extent that the impairment is, in the person's case, correctable by spectacles or contact lenses or in such other ways as may be prescribed;

(b)in relation to such other impairments as may be prescribed, in such circumstances as are prescribed.

Commencement Information

I5Sch. 1 para. 5 wholly in force at 1.10.2010; para. 5 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 216; para. 5 in force for certain purposes at 6.7.2010 by S.I. 2010/1736, art. 2, Sch.; Sch. 1 in force at 1.10.2010 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(1)(2)(g) (with art. 15)

[F1Normal day-to-day activitiesE+W+S

Textual Amendments

5A(1)This paragraph has effect for the purposes of the application to the protected characteristic of disability of—E+W+S

(a)Part 5 (work);

(b)Part 8 (prohibited conduct: ancillary), so far as relating to Part 5;

(c)Part 10 (contracts), so far as relating to Part 5;

(d)Schedule 21 (reasonable adjustments: supplementary), so far as applying for the purposes of Schedule 8.

(2)References in the relevant provisions to a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities are to be taken as including references to the person’s ability to participate fully and effectively in working life on an equal basis with other workers.

(3)The “relevant provisions” are—

(a)section 6 (disability);

(b)other provisions of this Schedule;

(c)regulations under this Schedule (whenever made).]

Certain medical conditionsE+W+S

6(1)Cancer, HIV infection and multiple sclerosis are each a disability.E+W+S

(2)HIV infection is infection by a virus capable of causing the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Deemed disabilityE+W+S

7(1)Regulations may provide for persons of prescribed descriptions to be treated as having disabilities.E+W+S

(2)The regulations may prescribe circumstances in which a person who has a disability is to be treated as no longer having the disability.

(3)This paragraph does not affect the other provisions of this Schedule.

Commencement Information

I6Sch. 1 para. 7 wholly in force at 1.10.2010; para. 7 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 216; para. 7 in force for certain purposes at 6.7.2010 by S.I. 2010/1736, art. 2, Sch.; Sch. 1 in force at 1.10.2010 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(1)(2)(g) (with art. 15)

Progressive conditionsE+W+S

8(1)This paragraph applies to a person (P) if—E+W+S

(a)P has a progressive condition,

(b)as a result of that condition P has an impairment which has (or had) an effect on P's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities, but

(c)the effect is not (or was not) a substantial adverse effect.

(2)P is to be taken to have an impairment which has a substantial adverse effect if the condition is likely to result in P having such an impairment.

(3)Regulations may make provision for a condition of a prescribed description to be treated as being, or as not being, progressive.

Commencement Information

I7Sch. 1 para. 8 wholly in force at 1.10.2010; para. 8 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 216; para. 8 in force for certain purposes at 6.7.2010 by S.I. 2010/1736, art. 2, Sch.; Sch. 1 in force at 1.10.2010 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(1)(2)(g) (with art. 15)

Past disabilitiesE+W+S

9(1)A question as to whether a person had a disability at a particular time (“the relevant time”) is to be determined, for the purposes of section 6, as if the provisions of, or made under, this Act were in force when the act complained of was done had been in force at the relevant time.E+W+S

(2)The relevant time may be a time before the coming into force of the provision of this Act to which the question relates.

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