Equality Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 198:"Page 33, line 28, leave out paragraph (a)." The noble Baroness said: In moving Amendment No. 198, I shall speak also to Amendments Nos. 199 and 200 in the name of my noble and learned friend Lord Falconer. I hope I can deal with the matter shortly; I have a long and a short note and I shall take the short one. The amendments would bring the provisions in respect of discriminatory practices in Clause 55 into line with other equality legislation by ensuring that it relates only to practices which may lead to indirect discrimination and not direct discrimination or harassment. It will be unlawful under Clause 55 only for a person to operate a practice, which is likely to lead to unlawful discrimination, if applied to persons of any religion or belief. The CEHR would not, therefore, have the power to bring a case in a situation where a restaurant said that it would not serve Muslims unless it received a complaint, which would be direct discrimination, although it seems unlikely that the CEHR would be aware of such a case in the absence of a complaint. These issues are relatively straightforward and I beg to move. On Question, amendment agreed to.