Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 were published prior to the publication of the results of the consultation by the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister on proposals to outlaw discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities and services; and if he will make a statement.
Answer
It was always the intention to publish the consultation responses and the Government's views on them around the same time as the Regulations were published.The results of the consultation are now on the OFMDFM website along with all the consultation responses received. In line with a request in a separate parliamentary question from the hon. Gentleman, copies of the consultation responses are being placed in the Library.