The Equality Bill received its First Reading in the House of Commons on Monday.

It sets out groundbreaking new laws which will help narrow the gap between rich and poor; require business to report on gender pay; outlaw age discrimination; and will significantly strengthen Britain’s anti-discrimination legislation.

The Equality Bill is expected to come in to force from autumn 2010.  I believe in equality, and this unified equality law will bring together many rights together to ensure a fairer society and local community.  I have supported our Labour government's action such as challenging disability discrimination and outlawing age discrimination at work.

This Bill is about fairness.  It is about all people in our community getting fair treatment. 

So in Glasgow it might mean making sure there are extra park benches in local parks so older people can enjoy public spaces and providing play areas for younger people so that they can make the most of our parks.  I welcome this and I will support it.

What will the Bill do? The Equality Bill will strengthen our equality law by:

• Putting a new duty on public bodies to consider how to reduce socio-economic inequalities;
• Putting a new Equality Duty on public bodies;
• Using public procurement to improve equality;
• Banning age discrimination outside the workplace;
• Introducing gender pay reports;
• Extending powers to use positive action;
• Strengthening the powers of employment tribunals;
• Protecting carers from discrimination;
• Protecting pregnant and new mothers;
• Banning discrimination in private clubs; and
• Strengthening protection from discrimination for disabled people