26 days later!

Well the birthdays have passed us by with a hiccup or two because of the cheap wine consumption. We'll be drinking a little champagne today to celebrate the introduction at last of the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation Regulations) 2007. It will be interesting over the coming months to see how these affect us and also what comes out of the discrimination law review.

Only 26 days to go.....

To protection against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in goods, facilities and services. A hard struggle but one well fought and won with minimum exemptions. Craig has reported about the regulations and campaign in great detail on his blog. The next campaign is to ensure similar protection for Trans people and also to ensure that the regulations are not merely written words but actions.

Only 18 days to go.....

To Craig's birthday!!!

Only 11 days to go...

To my birthday!!

And only 2 days to go to.....

And only 2 days to go to the introduction of the long awaited tenancy deposit schemes under the Housing Act 2004. From the 6th April 2007, landlords who accept deposits (bonds) from new assured shorthold tenants will be required to pay the deposit into a custodial scheme or if not pay into an insurance scheme. The landlord will also be required to provide written information to the tenant about where the deposit is held or risk paying the tenant compensation. If a landlord fails to protect the deposit under any of the schemes then s/he will not be able to serve a section 21 (no grounds) notice. More details available from CLG.

Only 2 days to go.....

The Gender Equality Duty comes into force on the 6th April 2007. By my reckoning then we are just 80 years and 2, maybe give or take another 20 days (for leap years) before we close that gender pay gap but obviously thats only if we are white and not disabled. The duty requires all public authorities in England, Wales and Scotland to demonstrate that they are promoting equality for women and men and that they are eliminating sexual discrimination and harassment. Public authorities will be required to produce Gender Equality Schemes. The schemes must be in place by 30th April 2007 in England, in Scotland by 29 June 2007 (with equal pay policy statements in place by 28 September 2007) but Welsh specific duties are not anticipated to be finalised until April 2008. Further details on the duty are available from the EOC website.