The Public Services Contractor - It Could Be You!

Since the introduction of the Act at the beginning of October 2000 I have come across a number of companies involved in the burgeoning public services sector that have been advised that the Human Rights Act does not affect them. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Act requires public authorities to act in a manner giving effect to Convention rights unless primary legislation (statute law) expressly requires them to act in some other way. Public services contractors will be treated as a public authority for functions they are performing on behalf of a public authority. This will be given a wide, purposive meaning to ensure that the Act's intentions are not avoided by contracting-out services.