The Blackstone's Guide Series delivers concise and accessible books covering the latest legislative changes and amendments. Published soon after enactment, they offer expert commentary by leading names on the extent, scope, and effects of the legislation, plus a full copy of the Act itself. They offer a cost-effective solution to key information needs and are the perfect companion for any practitioner needing to get up to speed with the latest changes.The Equality Act 2010 is the most significant reform of discrimination law in the UK. It contains significant changes to the law and consolidates the previous complex mass of statutory provisions into one statute. It brings in new rights against discrimination and imposes new duties on employers, service providers and public authorities. The Act will impose a new socio-economic duty on public authorities when making decisions of a strategic nature to have due regard to the desirability of exercising their functions in a way that is designed to reduce the inequalities of outcome which result from socio-economic disadvantage. It defines nine protected characteristics: age, disability, combined grounds, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. The new rights to protection include protection against discrimination in the provision of services, premises, work, and education.This new Blackstone's Guide combines the full text of the Act with an expert narrative. It seeks to explain the scope and impact of the Act, including the civil liberties implications, and to bring practitioners up-to-date. Presented in a straightforward and logical layout, it enables ease of use as a reference source.