Equality Act 2010, section 29

Provision of services, etc

Part 3 Services and public functions

(1) A person (a “service-provider”) concerned with the provision of a service to the public or a section of the public (for payment or not) must not discriminate against a person requiring the service by not providing the person with the service.

(2)A service-provider (A) must not, in providing the service, discriminate against a person (B)—

(a)as to the terms on which A provides the service to B;

(b)by terminating the provision of the service to B;

(c)by subjecting B to any other detriment.

(3)A service-provider must not, in relation to the provision of the service, harass—

(a)a person requiring the service, or

(b)a person to whom the service-provider provides the service.

(4)A service-provider must not victimise a person requiring the service by not providing the person with the service.

(5)A service-provider (A) must not, in providing the service, victimise a person (B)—

(a)as to the terms on which A provides the service to B;

(b)by terminating the provision of the service to B;

(c)by subjecting B to any other detriment.

(6)A person must not, in the exercise of a public function that is not the provision of a service to the public or a section of the public, do anything that constitutes discrimination, harassment or victimisation.

(7)A duty to make reasonable adjustments applies to—

(a)a service-provider (and see also section 55(7));

(b)a person who exercises a public function that is not the provision of a service to the public or a section of the public.

(8)In the application of section 26 for the purposes of subsection (3), and subsection (6) as it relates to harassment, neither of the following is a relevant protected characteristic—

(a)religion or belief;

(b)sexual orientation.

(9)In the application of this section, so far as relating to race or religion or belief, to the granting of entry clearance (within the meaning of the Immigration Act 1971), it does not matter whether an act is done within or outside the United Kingdom.

(10)Subsection (9) does not affect the application of any other provision of this Act to conduct outside England and Wales or Scotland.

Definitions used in section 29 3

provision of a service

(2)A reference to the provision of a service includes a reference to the provision of goods or facilities.

Defined in s.31(2) · see it in the full Act
detriment

“detriment” does not, subject to subsection (5), include conduct which amounts to harassment;

Defined in s.212(1) · see it in the full Act
public function

(3)A reference to the provision of a service includes a reference to the provision of a service in the exercise of a public function.

Defined in s.31(3) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 29 138

For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers

[2025] UKSC 16 · 16 April 2025

The general prohibition against discrimination by service-providers operates subject to Schedule 3 exceptions for biological single-sex and separate-sex services. (see paras [118]; [211]-[221])

R (on the application of Marouf) v Secretary of State for the Home Department

[2023] UKSC 23 · 28 June 2023Limits

The substantive prohibition on discrimination was distinguished from the procedural PSED. Its limited overseas application did not determine section 149's territorial reach (see paras [9]-[12]; [58]-[66]). The subsection confirms that section 29(9)'s express territorial extension does not alter the territorial application of other provisions of the Act (see paras [10]; [16]; [66]). The prohibition governing discrimination in the exercise of public functions applied overseas only to the limited extent supplied by section 29(9). That scope did not make the PSED co-extensive (see paras [60]-[66]). The provision extends section 29 to overseas conduct integral to granting or refusing entry clearance. It covers an individual being prevented from progressing under a special route, but not the prior adoption of the policy under prerogative powers (see paras [60]-[62]).

R v Lord Chancellor

[2017] UKSC 51 · 26 July 2017

The provision prohibits discrimination in providing services to the public and in exercising public functions. Employment tribunals fall within one or other category (see paras [122]-[123]). If employment tribunals are treated as services to the public, the prohibition against discriminatory terms in providing those services applies (see paras [122]-[123]). If tribunal provision is not a public service, it is the exercise of a public function and remains subject to the statutory prohibition against discrimination (see paras [122]-[123]).

118 more judgments, and what each says about section 29, are in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Explanatory note

107.This section makes it unlawful to discriminate against or harass a person because of a protected characteristic, or victimise someone when providing services (which includes goods and facilities). The person is protected both when requesting a service and during the course of being provided with a service.

108.It also makes it unlawful to discriminate against, harass or victimise a person when exercising a public function which does not involve the provision of a service. Examples of such public functions include law enforcement and revenue raising and collection. Public functions which involve the provision of a service, for example, medical treatment on the NHS, are covered by the provisions dealing with services.

109.It also imposes the duty to make reasonable adjustments set out in section 20 in relation to providing services and exercising public functions. A person is considered to have discriminated against a disabled person if he or she fails to comply with the duty to make reasonable adjustments.

110.However, the prohibition on harassment when providing services or exercising public functions does not cover sexual orientation or religion or belief.

111.The prohibitions in this section apply, in relation to race or religion or belief, to any actions taken in connection with the grant of entry clearance to enter the United Kingdom, even if the act in question takes place outside the United Kingdom.

112.Previous legislation provided some protection from discrimination, harassment and victimisation in the provision of services and the exercise of public functions. However, the protection was not uniform for the different protected characteristics. For example, there was no protection from discrimination in the exercise of public functions because of pregnancy and maternity or because a person is intending to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone gender reassignment. Also there was no protection for discrimination because of age, either in the provision of services or in the exercise of public functions.

113.This section replaces the provisions in previous legislation and extends protection so that it is generally uniform across all the protected characteristics covered by this Part. However, as under previous law, there is no express protection for harassment related to religion or belief or sexual orientation in either the provision of services or the exercise of public functions. Conduct that would otherwise have fallen within the definition of harassment may still amount to direct discrimination, as section 212(5) makes clear.

All the explanatory notes for the Act

Amendments and notes

1 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Commencement

  1. I11S. 29 wholly in force at 1.10.2012; s. 29 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 216; s. 29 in force for certain purposes at 1.10.2010 by S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(3); s. 29 in force so far as not already in force at 1.10.2012 by S.I. 2012/1569, art. 3(a)