Committee (4th Day)

Part of Equality Bill – in the House of Lords at 5:45 pm on 25 January 2010.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of The Archbishop of York The Archbishop of York Bishop 5:45, 25 January 2010

I am very grateful for the noble Baroness's explanation. However, I am still not sure what is meant by "exists to". Does that mean promoting, representing or explaining has to be the defining characteristic of a job, rather than simply one of its necessary characteristics? The Minister has to define that. For example, the Secretary General of the Church of England sits on the Archbishops' Council, takes its minutes and does a number of things. He exists to do that, but that is not the only definition of the role of secretary general. Sometimes you may find him accompanying me to something else, which has nothing to do with the General Synod of the Church of England. Can the Minister assure us that unnecessary arguments about the meaning of "exists to" will not be introduced? My argument with the Minister is to do with the drafting, not where the Government are going.