Clause 29
Equality Bill
2:15 pm
Vera Baird (Solicitor General, Attorney General's Office; Redcar, Labour)
Of course, we do not have control over the courts. However, we are of the opinion that private bodies exercising functions of a public nature that are not covered by the service provisions will be subject to the public function provision set out in the Bill. An example would be Group 4 running a prison; it is carrying out a function of a public nature that is not considered to constitute the provision of a service. Accordingly, under the Bill, that activity would be subject to the requirements of non-discrimination in the exercise of a public function which is not a service. That is the broad definition and I hope it is helpful. It is better than it might be.