1976 Race Relations Act
The Race Relations Act 1976, which came into force on 13 June 1977, was much more far-reaching than the previous legislation of 1965 and 1968, which it repealed.
Mirroring the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (and the work of the Equal Opportunities Commission which sought to end sex discrimination), it set up the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) to work towards the ‘elimination of discrimination’ on the grounds of ‘colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origins’. The CRE was given duties to promote ‘equality of opportunity’, review the working of the act and make recommendations for amendment, make grants to organisations and for the purposes of research and education as well as powers of enforcement, and carry out ‘formal investigations’.

In relation to employment, individuals could bring complaints to an industrial tribunal. The CRE could offer assistance with cases where they ‘raise a question of principle’, were too complex to deal with unaided, or there was another ‘special consideration’.
The act applied to employment, training and education; provision of goods, facilities and services; and the disposal and management of premises. It recognised that discrimination could be direct, indirect or take the form of victimisation.
The act did not extend to Northern Ireland. Neither did it cover religious discrimination specifically. However, in Northern Ireland religious discrimination was covered under the Fair Employment Act. Thus, there were anomalies across the UK.
The first chair of the CRE was David Lane MP.