Charities Bill [HL]

I am grateful to all noble Lords who have contributed to the debate. What my noble friend Lord Bassam has said must be studied carefully. I shall make two final points. The Minister said that we cannot have a long list, or a longer list. We are suggesting only a word; we are not suggesting a longer list. Our suggestion is for this Bill to be alongside other Bills where the word ““belief”” apparently is acceptable and not too long; the Equality Bill has been specially stressed. In regard to that and to what the noble Lord, Lord   Phillips, said, which I understand well, it is no answer to a suggestion that there is discrimination by omission on a charitable purpose list of descriptions. That is to say, ““Well, everyone is equal on public benefit””. If everyone is equal on public benefit, there is no discrimination at all. The discrimination inheres in the omission of a word that is acceptable everywhere else except in charity law. That is a prima facie case that has not been answered. The noble Lord wishes to intervene.