Clause 22 - Prohibition on disclosure of information
Gender Recognition Bill [Lords]
3:00 pm
Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon, Liberal Democrat)
The hon. Gentleman raised the example of a Member of Parliament and I will be interested to hear the Minister's response, but—I hope he will forgive me if I am repeating him—he also raised the question of a minister of religion or other person. The Government were partially relying on the view that for an action under the Human Rights Act to succeed against a minister of religion or his equivalent outside the established Church, it would have to be shown that the minister was a public authority or held a public office. We also debated the fact that that would be inappropriate and, I understood, prohibited under clause 22 for such a person to disclose that information. There seems to be a conflict or contradiction between those two positions and, since I do not know the answer, I would be grateful if the Minister could provide clarification and reassurance that the position that he and I want is provided for under clause 22.