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Discrimination Law Review

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Ruth Kelly) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The Government are today publishing their consultation following the discrimination law review. Along with the equalities review and the establishment of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, the discrimination law review is an important part of the Government's agenda for moving forward equality issues. The task of the discrimination law review has been to undertake a fundamental review of discrimination legislation in Great Britain and bring forward proposals for a clearer and more streamlined equality legislation framework which produces better outcomes for those who experience disadvantage. The review's three main objectives are to simplify, make more effective and modernise our framework of discrimination law. The consultation puts forward a package of proposals to achieve these objectives. The law needs to work alongside effective social policy measures and strong institutions to promote a culture of fairness, participation for all and respect for each other's rights. It needs to provide a framework of rights and responsibilities which is clearer and more consistent, while recognising that approaches need to be appropriate to the particular experiences of those facing discrimination, and proportionate to the size of the problem. The response to the consultation will contribute to preparations for a single equality Bill which the Government are committed to introducing during this Parliament. Copies of the consultation and relevant documents will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.