The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched a guide to ensure government departments comply with the Equality Act when making spending cuts.

The Equality Act, which was updated just last week, will require government departments to assess the equality impact of spending reductions, such as reorganisations and relocations, redundancies and service reductions programmes.

It will also require such decisions to be made in a fair, transparent and accountable way, considering the needs and rights of different members of the community.

Where decisions are found to have a disproportionate impact on a particular group, authorities must consider what actions can be taken to avoid or mitigate the unfair impact.

The guidance will also be helpful to voluntary and community groups, trade unions and individuals in helping them hold decision-makers to account.

Helen Hughes, chief executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: "As we approach the spending review, we know all public bodies will be making difficult decisions. This legislation is not designed to prevent reductions in public expenditure. Its role, and the Commission's role as a regulator tasked with monitoring and enforcing the legislation, is to ensure that fairness and transparency are at the heart of decisions.

“And when decisions do have a disproportionate impact, policy-makers think carefully about what they can do to mitigate it. Over the coming months, the Commission will be working hard to ensure those making the tough calls have the information and resources they need to do just that."

For a full copy of the guidance click here.