The Government Equalities Office (GEO) is a United Kingdom government department. It was created in October 2007 when the Women and Equality Unit, based within the Department for Communities and Local Government was converted into an independent department.

It is headed by Harriet Harman, as Minister for Women and Equality and Lord Privy Seal, assisted by Maria Eagle, who is also a Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice, and Michael Foster.

It has lead responsibility for gender equality within the UK government, together with a responsibility to provide advice on all other forms of equality (including age, race, sexual orientation and disability) to other UK government departments. The day to day responsibility for policy on these issues was not transferred to GEO when it was created.

The Equalities Office currently leads the Discrimination Law Review, which is developing the proposed Single Equality Bill to replace existing anti-discrimination legislation.

References

External links

• Government Equalities Office website