The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Public Authorities) (Statutory Duties) Order 2006

Preparation and publication of a Gender Equality Scheme

2.—(1) A listed authority shall by 30th April 2007 prepare and publish a Gender Equality Scheme (a “Scheme”), that is a scheme showing how it intends to fulfil its section 76A(1) duty and its duties under this Order.

(2) In preparing a Scheme, a listed authority shall consult its employees, service users and others (including trade unions) who appear to it to have an interest in the way it carries out its functions.

(3) In preparing a Scheme, a listed authority shall take into account any information it has gathered of the kind described in paragraph (6)(a) and any other information it considers to be relevant to the performance of its section 76A(1) duty and its duties under this Order.

(4) A listed authority shall ensure that its Scheme sets out the overall objectives which it has identified as being necessary for it to perform its section 76A(1) duty and its duties under this Order.

(5) A listed authority shall, when formulating its objectives for the purposes of paragraph (4), consider the need to have objectives that address the causes of any differences between the pay of men and women that are related to their sex.

(6) A listed authority shall ensure that its Scheme sets out the actions which it has taken or intends to take to—

(a) gather information on the effect of its policies and practices on men and women and in particular—

(i) the extent to which they promote equality between its male and female staff, and

(ii) the extent to which the services it provides and the functions it performs take account of the needs of men and women;

(b) make use of such information and any other information the authority considers to be relevant, to assist it in the performance of its section 76A(1) duty, its duties under this Order and in particular its regular review of—

(i) the effectiveness of the actions identified for the purposes of sub-paragraph (e), and

(ii) its arrangements for the preparation of subsequent Schemes;

(c) assess the impact of its policies and practices, or the likely impact of its proposed policies and practices, on equality between women and men;

(d) consult relevant employees, service users and others (including trade unions); and

(e) achieve the fulfilment of the objectives set out for the purposes of paragraph (4).