Clause 73
Equality Bill
12:45 pm
Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon, Liberal Democrat)
The Minister has made herself very clear. However, we are concerned that clause 73(2)(b) exists at all. There is no harm in having both the public sector equality duty and the tougher clause 73 requirements—we do not think that those go far enough, as we know from the debate on the previous group of amendments. Is she certain that there are not public sector organisations where the gender pay gap is just as wide and that an even tougher action than the public sector equality duty, which is an important, but slow boat, would not be best applied in those areas? It seems unfortunate to disapply the public sector, given that, if it met it, everything would be fine anyway.