Section 1 — Public sector duty regarding socio-economic inequalities

(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 [F1 in accordance with subsection (2A)].

(2A) [F2 The guidance to be taken into account under subsection (2) is—]

(a) [F2 in the case of a duty imposed on an authority in relation to devolved Scottish functions, guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers;]

(aa) [F2 [F3 in the case of a duty imposed on an authority in relation to devolved Welsh functions, guidance issued by the Welsh Ministers;]]

(b) [F2 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;

(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;

(k) a [F4 police and crime commissioner] established for an area in England.

(3) [F5 The authorities to which this section applies are—]

(a) [F5 the Scottish Ministers;]

(b) [F5 Food Standards Scotland;]

(c) [F5 Keeper of the Registers of Scotland;]

(d) [F5 National Records of Scotland;]

(e) [F5 Revenue Scotland;]

(f) [F5 Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service;]

(g) [F5 a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994;]

(h) [F5 an integration joint board established under section 9(2) of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014;]

(i) [F5 a Health Board constituted under section 2(1)(a) of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978;]

(j) [F5 a Special Health Board constituted under section 2(1)(b) of that Act;]

(k) [F5 Scottish Police Authority;]

(l) [F5 Highlands and Islands Enterprise;]

(m) [F5 Scottish Enterprise.]

(n) [F6 Scottish National Investment Bank p.l.c.;]

(o) [F6 South of Scotland Enterprise.]

(3A) [F7 This section also applies to the following authorities—]

(a) [F7 the Welsh Ministers;]

(b) [F7 a county council or county borough council in Wales;]

(ba) [F7 [F8 a corporate joint committee established by regulations made under Part 5 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021;]]

(c) [F7 a Local Health Board established under section 11 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006;]

(d) [F7 an NHS Trust established under section 18 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006;]

(e) [F7 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) [F7 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) [F7 a National Park authority established by an order under section 63 of the Environment Act 1995 for an area in Wales;]

(h) [F7 the Welsh Revenue Authority or Awdurdod Cyllid Cymru.]

(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.

Amendment notes

1. F1 Words in s. 1(2) substituted (23.5.2016) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 38(3), 72(7)
2. F2 S. 1(2A) inserted (23.5.2016) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 38(4), 72(7)
3. F3 S. 1(2A)(aa) inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 45(2), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(i)
4. F4 Words in s. 1(3)(k) substituted (22.11.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 99, Sch. 16 para. 381; S.I. 2012/2892, art. 2(a)(i)
5. F5 S. 1(3) substituted (S.) (1.4.2018) by The Equality Act 2010 (Authorities subject to the Socio-economic Inequality Duty) (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/101), regs. 1, 2(2)
6. F6 S. 1(3)(n)(o) inserted (26.11.2020) by The Scottish National Investment Bank p.l.c. and South of Scotland Enterprise (Miscellaneous Listings) Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/403), regs. 1, 2(2)
7. F7 S. 1(3A) inserted (E.W.) (30.3.2021) by The Equality Act 2010 (Authorities subject to a duty regarding Socio-economic Inequalities) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/295), regs. 1, 2
8. F8 S. 1(3A)(ba) inserted (3.12.2021) by The Equality Act 2010 (Authorities subject to a duty regarding Socio-economic Inequalities) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1351), regs. 1(2), 2