New clause 17 - DISCRIMINATION ON THE GROUNDS OF
Equality Bill [Lords]
2:30 pm
Sandra Gidley (Women & Older People, Non-Departmental & Cross Departmental Responsibilities; Romsey, Liberal Democrat)
I add my comments to those of the two previous speakers. I commend you, Mr. Gale, and your co-Chair for your vigorous chairing; I do not think I have ever heard so many recommendations that letters be written in a Committee. I would recommend that approach to other Chairs, because it seems on occasion to curtail unnecessary debate. I pay tribute to the way in which our consideration of the Bill was arranged. It was particularly helpful that there were no knives, and we were able to have a fairly free-ranging discussion on every part of the Bill. I thank the Minister and the Whips for that.
I also pay tribute to the hon. Member for Epping Forest. On the whole, the Committee has been good-natured. There have been points of disagreement, but generally they have been about the use of public funds, an issue on which the hon. Lady is diligent—as are we all, although we perhaps have different priorities for spending that money. I also thank the Clerks, the police and the Hansard staff.
Although our considerations have been consensual, I echo the thoughts of the hon. Lady: some points will be brought back again on Report, because although we had answers to our questions, opportunities are being missed under the Bill. It is a shame that some issues are being carried forward, always with good intent and, in some cases—but not in others—for the good reason that they are complex issues that need resolving. We will return to those points later.