The Government Equalities Office (GEO) was part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) of HM Government. It was created in October 2007 when the Women and Equality Unit, based within the Department for Communities and Local Government was converted into an independent department.
The department was subsequently merged into the Home Office, before transferring to the DCMS on 4 September 2012 following a Cabinet reshuffle.
It had lead responsibility for gender equality within the UK government, together with a responsibility to provide advice on all other forms of equality (including age, race, sexual orientation and disability) to other UK government departments. The day to day responsibility for policy on these issues was not transferred to GEO when it was created.
