To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that Gypsies, Roma and Irish Travellers are not discriminated against in licensed premises.
Answered on
23 July 2018
This Government is clear that all forms of unlawful discrimination are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The UK has a strong legal framework, and effective remedies, for the protection of human rights and for combating discrimination, complemented by the UK ratification and implementation of international human rights instruments. Romany Gypsies, Irish Travellers and Scottish Gypsy/Travellers have been recognised by the courts as specific racial groups for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010 and it is clear that licensed premises must not discriminate against members of any of these groups. Within licensed premises, local authorities and operators of those premises have a responsibility to promote four licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003 on the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.