Clause 9
Equality Bill
11:30 am
Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon, Liberal Democrat)
I wish to raise two issues. First, the fact that the Bill clearly extends the provisions to colour or nationality is to be noted and welcomed. Secondly, however, why have the Government chosen not to go down the path of including the question of dissent? As I understand it, the provisions in the original directive enable the Government, if they so choose, to talk about discrimination on the grounds of dissent as part of racial discrimination. It is not clear whether the Government have not taken that course for a specific reason or whether they think that it is already covered.
There are questions about whether we have sufficient coverage of discrimination if the specifics of racial discrimination, including that on the basis of someone’s descent, are not covered. There is clearly an overlap into issues of genetics and so on, and questions about caste discrimination would come under that. It would be helpful if the Minister clarified the Government’s position. This is a significant clause on race discrimination.