New Clause 40 — Enquiries about disability and health

Part of Equality Bill – in the House of Commons at 2:15 pm on 2 December 2009.

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Photo of Mark Harper Mark Harper Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions) 2:15, 2 December 2009

My hon. Friend has referred to disability, but to give people who have a disability an equal chance to get a job on merit it is sometimes necessary for employers to take steps and make reasonable adjustments. In that way, a person with a disability can compete on a level playing field and get a job fairly. The problem with the way that my hon. Friend has framed his amendments and new clauses is that an employer who took steps to make those reasonable adjustments could well fall foul of the discrimination provisions. That is something that he needs to think about.