Cultural Diversity - The Civil Service

Land Registry Cultural DiversityA note on legislationThe Race Relations Act 1976 (RRA) makes discrimination unlawful on the grounds ofrace, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin in respect of employment and theprovision of goods and services. This is supplemented by a Code of Practice from theCommission for Racial Equality (CRE).Over the years tribunals and courts have established precedents about the definitionof ethnic origin and the scope of the legislation based on groups with a long sharedhistory and culture such as Gypsies, Sikhs and Jews. Currently Muslims andRastafarians are not covered by the RRA by virtue solely of belonging to thosegroups.The Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 (RRAA) strengthens the RRA by extendingprotection against racial discrimination by public authorities. It also places a new,enforceable duty on public authorities to have due regard to the need to eliminateunlawful discrimination and promote equality of opportunity and good race relations.There is currently no specific legislation outlawing discrimination on the grounds ofreligion. However under proposals from the European Commission under Article 13 ofthe Treaty of Amsterdam, which all Member States have agreed, legislation will beintroduced making discrimination unlawful on grounds of religion or belief in the areasof employment and training.At present the likely timescale for legislation in the UK is December 2003.Although there is currently no specific legislation on religious discrimination it is againstRegistry policy to discriminate against or harass anyone on the grounds of religion.Such behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.2