Equality Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 174:"Page 27, line 21, after ““for”” insert ““play,””" The noble Lord said: The amendment would include play in the list of goods, facilities or services where it would be particularly unlawful to discriminate. As the   Minister knows, play is of great importance to children, and this amendment would include play firmly in this part of the Bill. By so doing, it gives value to play to help to ensure that young people have equal access to play services. Play is critically important to all children and is the most natural form of behaviour that any child can indulge in. As I said during the passage of the Children Act 2004:"““One matter is certain—wherever they are and whoever they are with, children will always engage in play. Put them in an empty room and they will play. Give them an empty cardboard box and they will play. Children engage in play as an involuntary instinct, like the blink of an eye, whether they are in the back of their parents’ car, on an open beach or even in a classroom””.—[Official Report, 30/3/05; col. 1235.]" What I said then is true today. We must protect the opportunities in society for all children to play, as it is so important in their development. Part 2 deals specifically with religion and belief, and there are particular issues for children of black and minority ethnic communities. In December 2004 the Greater London Authority published The State of London’s Children Report, which highlighted play as a key issue for black and minority ethnic children. The report highlighted a significant lack of use of play facilities for those children. It also found that community schemes are the most effective in reaching those children. I hope that the Minister will agree with me and shares my hope that the Commission for Equality and Human Rights will take up equality issues relating to play. I firmly believe that that can be assured only if play is referred to in this legislation. I beg to move.