Equality Bill [HL]

I have listened carefully to what has been said by my noble friend Lord Alli and by the noble Lord, Lord Lester of Herne Hill. They put the case powerfully and eloquently, and they make a somewhat unnerving alliance. We recognise the difficulties and disparities in today’s discrimination law framework and the real effect that it can have on people’s day-to-day life. The debate has been helpful in highlighting that, and I am grateful to noble Lords for their contribution. We have already made a clear commitment to the principle of addressing the difficulties. It is not a question of ““Why?””; we support the reasons for re-examining the law. It is a question of ““How?”” and ““When?””. The issue is not one of principle; it is, as my noble friend rightly suggested, one of method and timing. I turn first to the ““How?””. In February, recognising the sort of issues that we have debated today, the Government launched a review of discrimination law. That review is well under way. The discrimination law review will be wide-ranging and comprehensive. I was grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Lester of Herne Hill, for touching on some of the difficulties that are inherent in the amendments as currently drafted, even at first blush. Noble Lords will appreciate that even something that may seem like a basic step to extend the law must be preceded by an understanding of the potential impact on those who would be affected. The amendments would have an impact on all businesses, all voluntary bodies and wide areas of the public sector, including schools and the health service. It would be negligent and irresponsible if we did not examine the impact thoroughly and give those who were likely to be affected an opportunity to express their views. We must also ensure that discrimination law bites in the right way, providing protection that is both necessary and appropriate. Otherwise, we risk missing the target and imposing the law where it is not needed and missing areas in which it should properly bite. These are not simple issues. They will have to be considered thoroughly, and that is precisely the process that the discrimination law review is tasked to undertake. I know that Stonewall has already done work in the area, and I would welcome an opportunity to discuss that further with it. Then there is the issue of ““When?””. The Government were elected with a clear manifesto commitment to introduce a single equality Act. Together, the discrimination law review and its recommendations for a single equality Act will take place in the lifetime of this Parliament. That is our manifesto pledge. If it were in my gift to do so, I would be delighted to provide a more specific timetable for my noble friend Lord Alli and for the noble Lord, Lord Lester. But that, as your Lordships fully appreciate, is not within my gift. The Committee will know and understand why I cannot do that: I cannot pre-empt what will go in the Queen’s Speech for a future parliamentary Session. However, I can assure Members of the Committee that the issues they have raised will be addressed; that work is under way; that we are bound by this manifesto commitment; and that we will do all we can to look energetically at these issues. On that basis, I ask my noble friend and the noble Lord to withdraw their amendment, confident that they will give me no peace until something is done and that when we come back on Report they will have trenchant questions to ask which I, or some poor, unfortunate other Minister, will have to answer.