This fact card is divided into sections. Click to go to:-

  • Terms & Conditions of use
  • Main sources
  • Basic position commentary
  • More detail commentary (professional versions only)
  • Update bullets (professional versions only)

    MAIN SOURCES
    back to top

  • The Disability Rights Commission Act 1999 received Royal Assent on 27th July 1999.
  • The Disability Rights Commission Act 1999 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional Provision) Order 1999, SI 1999/2210 was made on 28th July 1999.
  • The Disability Rights Commission Act 1999 (Commencement No.2 and Transitional Provision) Order 2000, SI 2000/880 was made on 18th March 2000.
  • The Disability Rights Commission Act 1999 (Commencement No.3) Order 2006, SI 2006/3189 was made on 27th November 2006.
  • The Disability Rights Commission (Time Limits) Regulations 2000, SI 2000/879 came into force on 25th April 2000.
  • DRC Legal Achievements: 2000-2007 Legal Bulletin Issue 12 Legacy Edition
    go to updated reference in this note.
    BASIC POSITION
    back to top

    The Disability Rights Commission Act 1999 abolished the National Disability Council (see Disability Discrimination/Disability Discrimination Act 1995/National Disability Council ) and replaced it with a Disability Rights Commission (Disability Rights Commission Act 1999 s.1, from 25th April 2000 (see Disability Rights Commission Act 1999 (Commencement No.2 and Transitional Provision) Order 2000, SI 2000/880).

    As did the NDC, the DRC covers England, Scotland and Wales. However unlike the NDC it has power to support individuals seeking to enforce their rights (Disability Rights Commission Act 1999 s.7) and powers of investigation (Disability Rights Commission Act 1999 s.3).

    The Disability Rights Commission opened for business on 25th April 2000 from offices at 222 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8H (tel 08475 622 633), with other offices in Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff (see 2000/04/19 - DfEE Press Release 172/00 re opening of Disability Rights Commission). There is a DRC helpline service, Freepost MID 02164, Stratford upon Avon CV37 9BR, tel: 0845 762 2633, minicom: 0845 762 2644, fax: 0845 777 8878, e-mail ddahelp@stra.sitel.co.uk.

    Commissioners and staff of the DRC are not civil servants. They are paid by the DRC whose expenses are payable out of public funds by the Secretary of State.

    The "Disability Conciliation Service" run on behalf of the DRC by Mediation UK does not cover employment disputes (it is concerned only with DDA 1995 Part III which covers rights in relation to goods and services).

    The DRC provides four core services, legal advice, caseworking, policy and media work. Its overall functions are to:-

  • assist disabled people;
  • provide a central source of information and advice, particularly to disabled people, business, employers, service providers and other key stakeholders;
  • prepare and review statutory codes of practice;
  • make arrangements for conciliation in the field of access to goods, facilities, services and premises;
  • undertake formal investigations; and
  • carry out research.

    A single Commission for Equality and Human Rights ("CEHR") was proposed in a Fairness for all - government White Paper of May 2004 and will start to operate in October 2007. The functions of the Disability Discrimination Commission (along with those of the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality) will be absorbed into those of the new "Commission for Equality and Human Rights" as from October 2007 (see     Acts of Parliament etc/Equality Act 2006 ). Accordingly the DRC, along with the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission, is dissolved with effect from 1st October 2007 (by the Equality Act 2006 (Dissolution of Commissions and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Order 2007, SI 2007/2602).

    In 2006, the government has proposed setting up a new advisory body called "Equality 2025 - the UK Advisory Network on Disability Equality" to help it achieve the aim of equality for disabled people by 2025 (see 2006/07/11 - DWP Press Release "Recruitment of new advisory network on Disability Equality".

    go to next updated reference in this note.

    The main DRC web site is at www.drc-gb.org, which includes particularly useful DRC information and legislation webpages. For text of the Disability Rights Commission Act go to Acts of Parliament etc/Disability Rights Commission Act 1999/text or to the government web site.


    FINISH>
    most recent general revision of this fact card:- May2004.
    back to top


  • Dates appearing after the "FINISH >" sign above refer to date of preparation of, or most recent update to, this page.
  • Throughout this site main notes are on this colour background. Recent developments (during approx the last 9 to 12 months) are on this colour background and marked "rd" in the index(es).
  • IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER NOTICE:- Use of this site is subject to terms and conditions.