Equality Bill [HL]

I am grateful to the noble Baroness for that very clear and welcome reply. The only outstanding question—I know it is not her department that has carriage of this; it is really for the Department of Trade and Industry—is the argument between the EOC and that department as to whether the amendments to be made to the Sex Discrimination Act by the regulations are generous enough to comply with the EU directive. Will the Government—not this evening—give a written response to the EOC’s concerns and perhaps circulate it   to interested Members of the Committee. That will happen before the Bill is amended and will set the standards for what goes into this Bill when it comes back at Report stage. It is quite important that that issue should be resolved. On the face of it, the EOC’s points seem fairly convincing, but they are simply a part of the route to arrive at the destination. Perhaps the Minister will respond to that.