The EHRC submitted a draft to us in September 2025. EHRC continued to work on it and submitted an updated version in April 2026. They made the decision to amend the draft Code following feedback, consultation responses and legal advice. More information on EHRC’s decision can be found on EHRC’s website detailing the minutes of the Special meeting of the Board: 13 April 2026, which can be found here: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/transparency-and-corporate-reporting/board-meetings

The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC’s) updated statutory guidance - Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations - provides guidance to service providers, associations and those exercising public functions to help them understand and comply with the Equality Act 2010.

The Equality Act 2010 is the law. Duty bearers must comply with the law. The EHRC is the independent equality regulator and ensures compliance with the Equality Act 2010.

The EHRC is an independent arm’s length body that is operationally independent of the Government. Their annual budget is set by the Cabinet Office. The Government regularly reviews how it allocates taxpayers' money within a fiscally challenging context, including reviewing the EHRC budget annually. In recent years the Government has provided additional funding to the Commission, beyond their allocation, to help with in-year pressures. We know the EHRC carefully prioritises its work to ensure it can deliver its statutory functions within the current budget.

A list of special advisers is published each year in the Annual Report on Special Advisers.

The Office for Equality and Opportunity has not appointed any delivery advisers to date through the Direct Ministerial Appointment route, as civil servants appointed by exception, or as permanent civil servants appointed through open competition.

Wear and tear on roads is dominated by heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and buses, with a much smaller impact from cars of any type.

The Government has set out its intention to phase out the sale of new pure petrol and diesel cars from 2030, and to phase out the sale of all new non-zero emission cars and vans from 2035. The Government has no plans to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles already in use or those sold before the phase out dates.

The Government has extensively assessed the impact of transitioning to zero emission vehicles and expects current petrol and diesel vehicle owners to benefit substantially from the lower running costs of switching to an electric vehicle, reduced air pollution, and reduced noise pollution.

The Department for Transport has published analysis of the whole-life environmental impact of electric vehicles available on GOV.UK. The analysis shows that, over their lifetime, electric cars are estimated to save at least 65% of greenhouse gas emissions compared to a petrol equivalent, and that this is likely to rise as renewable energy generation increases.

The Government has set out its intention to phase out the sale of new pure petrol and diesel cars from 2030, and to phase out the sale of all new non-zero emission cars and vans from 2035. The Government has no plans to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles already in use or those sold before the phase out dates.

The Government has extensively assessed the impact of transitioning to zero emission vehicles and expects current petrol and diesel vehicle owners to benefit substantially from the lower running costs of switching to an electric vehicle, reduced air pollution, and reduced noise pollution.

The Department for Transport has published analysis of the whole-life environmental impact of electric vehicles available on GOV.UK. The analysis shows that, over their lifetime, electric cars are estimated to save at least 65% of greenhouse gas emissions compared to a petrol equivalent, and that this is likely to rise as renewable energy generation increases.

The Government has set out its intention to phase out the sale of new pure petrol and diesel cars from 2030, and to phase out the sale of all new non-zero emission cars and vans from 2035. The Government has no plans to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles already in use or those sold before the phase out dates.

The Government has extensively assessed the impact of transitioning to zero emission vehicles and expects current petrol and diesel vehicle owners to benefit substantially from the lower running costs of switching to an electric vehicle, reduced air pollution, and reduced noise pollution.

The Department for Transport has published analysis of the whole-life environmental impact of electric vehicles available on GOV.UK. The analysis shows that, over their lifetime, electric cars are estimated to save at least 65% of greenhouse gas emissions compared to a petrol equivalent, and that this is likely to rise as renewable energy generation increases.

Widening access to zero emission vehicles is a priority for the Government. Many used zero emission vehicle models are now available at similar prices to equivalent petrol and diesel vehicles. Industry data suggests that one in five used electric cars is available at under £15,000 and 43% are priced at £20,000 or less. Drivers also benefit from tax incentives until at least 2030, while Government grants support home and workplace charging.

For those able to charge at home, electric vehicles can save up to £1,400 a year in running and maintenance costs. The Government is investing £25 million in pavement channels to expand access to cheaper domestic charging and reviewing public charging costs to improve affordability.

Widening access to zero emission vehicles is a priority for the Government. Many used zero emission vehicle models are now available at similar prices to equivalent petrol and diesel vehicles. Industry data suggests that one in five used electric cars is available at under £15,000 and 43% are priced at £20,000 or less. Drivers also benefit from tax incentives until at least 2030, while Government grants support home and workplace charging.

For those able to charge at home, electric vehicles can save up to £1,400 a year in running and maintenance costs. The Government is investing £25 million in pavement channels to expand access to cheaper domestic charging and reviewing public charging costs to improve affordability.

I refer the Hon Member to Question 28062 answered on 11 September 2026.

There are gaps in the current law which allow abusive conversion practices to happen lawfully and that is unacceptable. At the moment these abusive practices can go under the radar because people do not recognise abusive non-physical conversion practices for what they are.

Without specific legislation and a legal definition, these incidents are difficult to formally record, nor is there a consistent framework for victims or safeguarding professionals to identify them as abusive. Our Draft Bill provides a necessary legal definition, which will ensure that this abuse can be accurately recognised, formally tracked, and prosecuted.

The OEO took part in the pilot Cabinet Office Future Leaders Policy Internship scheme during summer 2026. This was organised by Cabinet Office HR with OEO volunteering to accept two candidates for an 8 week internship.

The EHRC is an independent arm’s length body that is operationally independent of the Government. As an independent arm's length body, it is for the EHRC to decide on how it allocates its budget and operational activity. The Equality Act 2006 sets out the legal duty for the Secretary of State to lay before Parliament a copy of EHRC's Annual Reports and Accounts for the previous financial year. On 8 July, the EHRC published its Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year 2025-2026, which can be found here: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/transparency-and-corporate-reporting/annual-reports

Industrial disputes are handled at a departmental level. The Office for Equality and Opportunity is a business unit that is in the process of moving from the Cabinet Office to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. These departments would have handled any relevant industrial disputes.

The EHRC is an independent arm’s length body that is operationally independent of the Government.

Over the past three financial years, Office for Equality and Opportunity headcount has been as follows:

• April 2024: 127 FTE
• April 2025: 141 FTE
• April 2026: 167 FTE

This staffing will ensure delivery of manifesto commitments such as parts of employment rights legislation, pay gap reporting consultations, updating the Code of Practice and the Conversion Practices Bill, alongside delivery of other ministerial priorities.

Data on facility time is not held centrally. The Office for Equality and Opportunity does not centrally hold information/data on individuals facility time spent and the costs associated.

During the 2025 calendar year, the Office for Equality and Opportunity publicly marked a variety of different days, which can be seen through communications materials and social media content. The EHRC is an independent arm’s length body that is operationally independent of the Government. As such, it is for the EHRC to decide on how it allocates its budget and operational activity including in relation to external communications marking significant themed days, weeks or months.

Information is released in regular transparency returns by the Department.

Without targeted campaigns, millions of citizens would miss out on services, rights, and support to which they are entitled.

Campaigns across government have included the NHS Fit for the Future campaign which directly benefits patients by informing them how, where, and when to access transformed health services. The Defence investment campaign also generates thousands of skilled jobs and millions in regional economic growth through awareness.

The Office for Equality and Opportunity incurred expenditure on marketing and media of £189,000 in 2024-25 and £164,000 in 2025-26.

The EHRC is an independent arm’s length body that is operationally independent of the Government. As an independent arm's length body, it is for the EHRC to decide on how it allocates its budget and operational activity. The Equality Act 2006 sets out the legal duty for the Secretary of State to lay before Parliament a copy of EHRC's Annual Reports and Accounts for the previous financial year. On 8 July, the EHRC published its Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year 2025-2026, which can be found here: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/transparency-and-corporate-reporting/annual-reports.

1) The Office for Equality and Opportunity has not incurred any expenditure on social media influencers since July 2024.

2) The EHRC is an independent arm’s length body that is operationally independent of the Government. As an independent arm's length body, it is for the EHRC to decide on how it allocates its budget and operational activity. The Equality Act 2006 sets out the legal duty for the Secretary of State to lay before Parliament a copy of EHRC's Annual Reports and Accounts for the previous financial year. On 21 July, the EHRC published its Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year 2025-2026, which can be found here: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/transparency-and-corporate-reporting/annual-reports.

The requested data of purchase price differentials between diesel and equivalent zero-emission HGVs for each weight category will be published alongside the next consultation on the HGV CO2 emissions regulatory framework.