Equality body to be slimmed down in bonfire of quangos

Hot on the heels of the introduction of the Equality Act on 1st October, the Government has announced today that the body responsible for enforcing much of it – the Equality and Human Rights Commission (ECHR) is to be substantially reformed and looks likely to be cut back.

The Government launched a review of all public sector bodies in the summer, in line with its aim of both reducing public spending and cutting back central interference in people’s lives. The review, published today, says that the ECHR will be “retained but substantially reformed, with a better focus on its core regulatory functions and improved use of taxpayers’ money”.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission was created under the previous Labour government and brings together several bodies that previously enforced race, sex and disability discrimination laws. Among the functions it performs are providing assistance to claimants to bring “test cases” in courts and tribunals.