New clause 15 - Employment Equality Regulations (amendment)
Equality Bill [Lords]
2:00 pm
Meg Munn (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry; Sheffield, Heeley, Labour)
I commend the hon. Gentleman on his attention. To give an example, an employer who was a Muslim could not deny another, more secular Muslim employment on the grounds that they were not religious enough. The religion or belief regulations have been in effect since December 2003 and are working effectively. There is no evidence to suggest confusion or that regulation 3(2) is being used as a loophole to allow people to discriminate against others of the same religion. That said, I recognise the concern, and the Government have already changed the Bill to make the position clearer. Given that we are moving towards the end of our consideration and that I have given way on very little, and having listened to the points raised today, I will take the issue away and have another look at it. I hope that, on that basis, the hon. Gentleman is content to withdraw the motion.