Local Government and Housing Act 1989

7 All staff to be appointed on merit. E+W+S

(1) Every appointment of a person to a paid office or employment under—

(a) a local authority or parish or community council in England and Wales, or

(b) a local authority in Scotland,

shall be made on merit.

(2) Subsection (1) above applies to all appointments made by, or by any committee of, a local authority or parish or community council, whether made under section 112 of the Local Government Act 1972 or section 64 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (appointment of staff) or otherwise, but has effect subject to—

F1 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) [F2 section 18 of the M1 Fire Services Act 1947 (regulations as to appointment etc. of chief officers and fire brigades);]

(c) section 7 of the M2 Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (discrimination permitted in relation to employment where sex of employee is a genuine occupational qualification);

(d) section 5 of the M3 Race Relations Act 1976 (discrimination permitted in relation to employment where being of a particular racial group is a genuine occupational qualification); F3 . . .

(e) section 113 of the M4 Local Government Finance Act 1988 and section 6 above (qualifications of officers responsible for administration of financial affairs of certain authorities) [F4 ; and.

F4 (f) [F5 sections 5 and 6 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (meaning of discrimination and duty to make adjustments).]]

[F5 sections 4, 4A, 4D and 4E of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (discrimination and duties to make adjustments in relation to employees and office-holders).]

(3) This section shall come into force at the expiry of the period of two months beginning on the day this Act is passed.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 7(2)(a) omitted (2.12.1996) by virtue of 1995 c. 50, s. 70(4), Sch. 6 para. 5(a) (with ss. 59, 64, 65); S.I. 1996/1474, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. III

F2 S. 7(2)(b) repealed (E.W.) (1.10.2004 except in relation to W., 10.11.2004 for W.) by Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (c. 21), s. 61, Sch. 2; S.I. 2004/2304, art. 2; S.I. 2004/2917, art. 2

F3 Word in s. 7(2)(d) omitted (2.12.1996) by virtue of 1995 c. 50, s. 70(4), Sch. 6 para. 5(b) (with ss. 59, 64, 65); S.I. 1996/1474, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. III (and repealed (prosp.) by 1995 c. 50, s. 70(3)(5), Sch. 7 (with ss. 59, 64, 65)

F4 S. 7(2)(f) and preceding “; and" inserted (2.12.1996) by 1995 c. 50, s. 70(4), Sch. 6 para. 5(c) (with ss. 59, 64, 65); S.I. 1996/1474, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. III

F5 S. 7(2)(f) substituted (3.7.2003 for specified purposes, 1.10.2004 in so far as not already in force) by The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1673), reg. 1(2)(3), 31(1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 7 extended (E.W.) (19.9.1995) by 1995 c. 25, ss. 63(5), 125(2), Sch. 7 para. 13(7) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117, Sch. 8 para. 7)

S. 7 applied (8.5.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 67(6) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(b), Sch. Pt. 2

C2 S. 7 applied (E.) (22.7.2004) by The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Establishment of Conservation Board) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1777), arts. 1, 17(7)

C3 S. 7 applied (E.) (22.7.2004) by The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Establishment of Conservation Board) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1778), arts. 1, 17(7)(c)

Marginal Citations

M1 1947 c. 41.

M2 1975 c. 65.

M3 1976 c. 74.

M4 1988 c. 41.