Search Legislation

Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (repealed)

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Changes over time for: Cross Heading: Discrimination by other bodies

 Help about opening options

Version Superseded: 05/05/2010

Status:

Point in time view as at 12/10/2007.

Changes to legislation:

There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (repealed), Cross Heading: Discrimination by other bodies. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.

Discrimination by other bodiesE+W+S

11 Partnerships.E+W+S

(1)It is unlawful for a firm F1. . ., in relation to a position as partner in the firm, to discriminate against a woman—

(a)in the arrangements they make for the purpose of determining who should be offered that position, or

(b)in the terms on which they offer her that position, or

(c)by refusing or deliberately omitting to offer her that position, or

(d)in a case where the woman already holds that position—

(i)in the way they afford her access to any benefits, facilities or services, or by refusing or deliberately omitting to afford her access to them, or

(ii)by expelling her from that position, or subjecting her to any other detriment.

(2)Subsection (1) shall apply in relation to persons proposing to form themselves into a partnership as it applies in relation to a firm.

[F2(2A)It is unlawful for a firm, in relation to a position as partner in the firm, to subject to harassment a woman who holds or has applied for that position.]

(3)[F3Subject to subsection (3A),]Subsection (1)(a) and (c) do not apply to a position as partner where, if it were employment, being a man would be a genuine occupational qualification for the job.

[F4(3A)Subsection (3) does not apply in relation to discrimination falling within section 2A.

(3B)In relation to discrimination falling within section 2A, subsection (1) does not make unlawful a firm’s treatment of a person in relation to a position as partner where—

(a)if it were employment—

(i)being a man would be a genuine occupational qualification for the job, or

(ii)being a woman would be a genuine occupational qualification for the job, and

(b)the firm can show that the treatment is reasonable in view of the circumstances relevant for the purposes of paragraph (a) and any other relevant circumstances.

(3C)In relation to discrimination falling within section 2A, subsection (1)(a), (c) and, so far as it relates to expulsion, (d)(ii) do not apply to a position as partner where, if it were employment, there would be a supplementary genuine occupational qualification for the job.]

[F5(3D)Subsections (3B) and (3C) do not apply in relation to discrimination against a person whose gender has become the acquired gender under the Gender Recognition Act 2004.]

(4)F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5)In the case of a limited partnership references in subsection (1) to a partner shall be construed as references to a general partner as defined in section 3 of the M1Limited Partnerships Act 1907.

[F7(6)This section applies to a limited liability partnership as it applies to a firm; and, in its application to a limited liability partnership, references to a partner in a firm are references to a member of the limited liability partnership.]

12 Trade unions etc.E+W+S

(1)This section applies to an organisation of workers, an organisation of employers, or any other organisation whose members carry on a particular profession or trade for the purposes of which the organisation exists.

(2)It is unlawful for an organisation to which this section applies, in the case of a woman who is not a member of the organisation, to discriminate against her—

(a)in the terms on which it is prepared to admit her to membership, or

(b)by refusing, or deliberately omitting to accept, her application for membership.

(3)It is unlawful for an organisation to which this section applies, in the case of a woman who is a member of the organisation, to discriminate against her—

(a)in the way it affords her access to any benefits, facilities or services, or by refusing or deliberately omitting to afford her access to them, or

(b)by depriving her of membership, or varying the terms on which she is a member, or

(c)by subjecting her to any other detriment.

[F8(3A)It is unlawful for an organisation to which this section applies, in relation to membership of that organisation, to subject to harassment a woman who—

(a)is a member of the organisation, or

(b)has applied for membership of the organisation.]

(4)F9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

13 Qualifying bodies.E+W+S

(1)It is unlawful for an authority or body which can confer an authorisation or qualification which is needed for, or facilitates, engagement in a particular profession or trade to discriminate against a woman—

(a)in the terms on which it is prepared to confer on her that authorisation or qualification, or

(b)by refusing or deliberately omitting to grant her application for it, or

(c)by withdrawing it from her or varying the terms on which she holds it.

[F10(1A)It is unlawful for a body to which this section applies, in relation to an authorisation or qualification of a kind mentioned in subsection (1), to subject to harassment a woman who holds or applies for such an authorisation or qualification.]

(2)Where an authority or body is required by law to satisfy itself as to his good character before conferring on a person an authorisation or qualification which is needed for, or facilitates, his engagement in any profession or trade then, without prejudice to any other duty to which it is subject, that requirement shall be taken to impose on the authority or body a duty to have regard to any evidence tending to show that he, or any of his employees, or agents (whether past or present), has practised unlawful discrimination in, or in connection with, the carrying on of any profession or trade.

(3)In this section—

(a)authorisation or qualification” includes recognition, registration, enrolment, approval and certification,

(b)confer” includes renew or extend.

(4)Subsection (1) does not apply to discrimination which is rendered unlawful by section 22 or 23.

[F11(5)Subsection (1A) does not apply to harassment which is rendered unlawful by section 22 or 23.]

[F1214 Persons concerned with provision of vocational training.E+W+S

[F13(1)It is unlawful, in the case of a woman seeking or receiving vocational training, for any person who provides, or makes arrangements for the provision of, facilities for vocational training to discriminate against her—

(a)in the arrangements that person makes for the purpose of selecting people to receive vocational training,

(b)in the terms on which that person affords her access to any vocational training or facilities concerned with vocational training,

(c)by refusing or deliberately omitting to afford her such access,

(d)by terminating her vocational training, or

(e)by subjecting her to any detriment during the course of her vocational training.

(1A)It is unlawful for a provider of vocational training, in relation to such training, to subject to harassment a woman—

(a)to whom he is providing such training, or

(b)who has asked him to provide such training.

(1B)In this section “vocational training”, in relation to a woman, includes (if it would not otherwise do so) any training which would help fit her for any employment.]

(2)Subsection (1) does not apply to—

(a)discrimination which is rendered unlawful by section 6(1) or (2) or section 22 or 23, or

(b)discrimination which would be rendered unlawful by any of those provisions but for the operation of any other provision of this Act.

15 Employment agencies.E+W+S

(1)It is unlawful for an employment agency to discriminate against a woman—

(a)in the terms on which the agency offers to provide any of its services, or

(b)by refusing or deliberately omitting to provide any of its services, or

(c)in the way it provides any of its services.

[F14(1A)It is unlawful for an employment agency, in relation to the provision of its services, to subject to harassment a woman—

(a)to whom it provides such services, or

(b)who has requested the provision of such services.]

[F15(2)It is unlawful for a local education authority or education authority or any other person to do any act in providing services in pursuance of arrangements made, or a direction given, under section 10 of the M2Employment and Training Act 1973 which constitutes discrimination.]

(3)References in subsection (1) to the services of an employment agency include guidance on careers and any other services related to employment.

(4)This section does not apply if the discrimination only concerns employment which the employer could lawfully refuse to offer the woman.

(5)An employment agency or local education authority [F16, education authority or other person] shall not be subject to any liability under this section if it proves—

(a)that it acted in reliance on a statement made to it by the employer to the effect that, by reason of the operation of subsection (4), its action would not be unlawful, and

(b)that it was reasonable for it to rely on the statement.

(6)A person who knowingly or recklessly makes a statement such as is referred to in subsection (5)(a) which in a material respect is false or misleading commits an offence, and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F17level 5 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

F15S. 15(2) substituted (1.4.1994 in relation to England and Scotland and 1.4.1995 for all other purposes) by 1993 c. 19, s. 49(2), Sch. 8 para. 8(a); S.I. 1993/2503, art. 2(3), Sch.3

F16Words in s. 15(5) substituted (1.4.1994 in relation to England and Scotland . and 1.4.1995 for all other purposes) by 1993 c. 19, s. 49(2), Sch. 8 para. 8(b); S.I. 1993/2503, art. 2(3), Sch.3

Marginal Citations

16 Manpower Services Commission etc.E+W+S

[F18(1)It is unlawful for the [F19Secretary of State . . . F20][F21or the Minister] to discriminate [F22, or subject a woman to harassment] in the provision of facilities or services under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973.]

[F23(1A)It is unlawful for Scottish Enterprise or Highlands and Islands Enterprise to discriminate [F24, or subject a woman to harassment] in the provision of facilities or services under such arrangements as are mentioned in section 2(3) of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 (arrangements analogous to arrangements in pursuance of section 2 of the said Act of 1973).]

(2)This section does not apply in a case where—

(a)section 14 applies, or

(b)the [F25Secretary of State]is acting as an employment agency.]

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources