Clause 59 - Membership requirement
Equality Bill [Lords]
6:43 pm
Evan Harris (Science, Non-Departmental & Cross Departmental Responsibilities; Oxford West and Abingdon, Liberal Democrat)
The problem with the Minister's reply is the same as the problem with the answer to the hon. Member for Beaconsfield. None of the arguments that he adduced could not also be used in different circumstances when it comes to race relations legislation. Organisations could say that they had always had a race bar, and that that is the way that they work. I am not saying that that is a comparable offence, although it is an offence to those who are discriminated against, but the answer given in those cases was that organisations would not be so badly damaged by having to comply with legislation on discrimination, because the Government believe that not discriminating, particularly against children, is a legitimate thing for us to be interested in. I am sorry that I have not got the support of the Minister and the hon. Member for Beaconsfield, but I think that I speak for the many people who will wonder why this clause, which is practically ad personam in terms of organisation, has been added. However, I do not intend to divide the Committee.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 59 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clauses 60 and 61 ordered to stand part of the Bill.