Section 31: Interpretation and exceptions

Equality Act 2010 · 2010 c. 15View on legislation.gov.uk

Part 3: Services and public functions

This section applies for the purposes of this Part.

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

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

A public function is a function that is a function of a public nature for the purposes of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Where an employer arranges for another person to provide a service only to the employer's employees—

the employer is not to be regarded as the service-provider, but
the employees are to be regarded as a section of the public.

A reference to a person requiring a service includes a reference to a person who is seeking to obtain or use the service.

A reference to a service-provider not providing a person with a service includes a reference to—

the service-provider not providing the person with a service of the quality that the service-provider usually provides to the public (or the section of it which includes the person), or
the service-provider not providing the person with the service in the manner in which, or on the terms on which, the service-provider usually provides the service to the public (or the section of it which includes the person).

In relation to the provision of a service by either House of Parliament, the service-provider is the Corporate Officer of the House concerned; and if the service involves access to, or use of, a place in the Palace of Westminster which members of the public are allowed to enter, both Corporate Officers are jointly the service-provider.

Schedule 2 (reasonable adjustments) has effect.

Schedule 3 (exceptions) has effect.

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Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.