The Race Relations Act 1976

This Act prohibits discrimination in relation to employment, education, housing and the provision of goods, services and facilities. This covers direct discrimination and indirect discrimination as an employer or as a provider of other services. The Act also allows organisations to take certain steps in pursuit of positive action but does not allow positive discrimination.

The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000

This amends the 1976 Act and places a new duty on all listed public authorities to `promote racial equality'.

This means that they are required to actively promote racial equality through:

• working towards the elimination of unlawful discrimination
• promoting equality of opportunity
• promoting good relations between persons of different racial groups