New clause 15 - Employment Equality Regulations (amendment)
Equality Bill [Lords]
2:00 pm
Evan Harris (Science, Non-Departmental & Cross Departmental Responsibilities; Oxford West and Abingdon, Liberal Democrat)
We should welcome two things. First, the Minister has demonstrated an ability to tackle the issues in part 2—a pleasure previously restricted to her colleague, the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, the hon. Member for Wythenshawe and Sale, East (Paul Goggins). From that brief excerpt, she can see how much fun that was, and she too now has a good mastery of part 2.
Secondly, and more importantly, I am pleased that the Minister sees the point. As I think I made clear, I was not seeking to claim that the Government ever felt it would be right to discriminate in the way that some people might think was possible given the loophole. I am happy to assure her of that and I am grateful for her agreeing to take the issue away to see whether—for the sake of consistency, if nothing else—it would be wise to make the relevant changes. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion.
Motion and clause, by leave, withdrawn.