12. The Human Rights Act

The Human Rights Act 1998 has a wide-ranging discrimination provision which includes types of discrimination that are not covered in other discrimination laws. However, it can be used only when it is part of one of the other 'articles' (the pspecific rinciples) of the act, such as the right to 'respect for private and family life'.

Also, rights under the act can only be used against a public authority (for example, the police, a local council or the Benefits Agency), and not a private company. However, court decisions on discrimination will generally have to take into account what the Human Rights Act says.