Clause 47 - Section 46: exceptions
Equality Bill [Lords]
11:45 am
Paul Goggins (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office; Wythenshawe and Sale East, Labour)
This is a rare opportunity for me to go first in a debate. Amendments Nos. 14 and 15 stand in the name of my hon. Friend the Minister for Women and Equality. They are minor technical amendments that correct a printing error in the numbering of the clause arising from the removal of the provisions in clause 46 which previously made harassment in the provision of premises unlawful. Amendments Nos. 16 to 19 remove the remaining references to harassment from the immigration exception in clause 51(4). Amendment No. 109, in the name of the hon. Member for Beaconsfield, has exactly the same effect as amendment No. 14—great minds think alike.
Members of the Committee will be aware that the provisions that would have protected people from harassment on the grounds of their religion or belief were removed from the Bill on Third Reading in the other place. These amendments simply complete that process. Amendments Nos. 16 to 19 should not, however, be taken to mean that we support the removal of the harassment provisions from the Bill. We believe that it is wrong and that it should be unlawful for those carrying out public functions or running premises to harass people because of their religion or belief. My noble Friend Baroness Scotland was very clear in the other place that we do not want to see immigration officers, prison officers, landlords and others harassing people on the grounds of religion. There was wide agreement on that principle, although unfortunately not on the wording or the detail of our proposals.
My hon. Friend the Minister for Women and Equality made it clear on Second Reading that we remain convinced of the need to act against harassment on the grounds of religion or belief and that we will consider the question of harassment further as part of the discrimination law review. At this stage, I simply commend these minor technical amendments to the Committee and invite the hon. Member for Beaconsfield not to press amendment No. 109.