Making arbitration and mediation services follow equality laws

This bill would require arbitration and mediation services to follow equality laws. Arbitration means having a neutral person decide disputes instead of going to court. Mediation means having someone help parties reach an agreement. Currently, these services may not have to follow the same equality rules as other businesses. The bill would make sure they treat people fairly regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion, or other protected characteristics. This would affect private dispute resolution services across the UK. The government says this will ensure equal access to justice alternatives. Critics might argue this adds regulatory burden to these services. The bill would bring these services in line with equality requirements that apply to other service providers.

• 1Arbitration and mediation services would have to follow equality laws
• 2These services help resolve disputes without going to court
• 3Currently these services may not follow the same equality rules as other businesses
• 4People would be protected from discrimination based on race, gender, disability and other characteristics
• 5This would affect private dispute resolution services across the UK