Schedule 9

Part of Equality Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 6:15 pm on 23 June 2009.

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Photo of Evan Harris Evan Harris Shadow Science Minister 6:15, 23 June 2009

That person would be protected by the employment regulations that protect people from discrimination on the basis of their religion or belief. There is no exemption sought by the secular world to specifically discriminate against religious people—  regulation 7(3)(a) in the old employment directives. So it is not equal in that way. It is a specific exemption to be used by religious organisations, not secular ones. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will accept that.