Equality Bill [HL]

Let me immediately assure my noble friend that there is no issue between us in terms of principle. It is, once again, one of method and timing. The Government are aware of the sensitivities and complexities surrounding the subject of those who have to balance their working lives with their caring responsibilities. We recognise the valuable contributions carers make to society and are keen that this should have greater recognition. The Government have acted to ensure that recognition. For example, since April 2003, employees who are parents with young or disabled children have had the right to ask for flexible hours, and their employers have a legal duty to consider those requests seriously. My noble friend is right to highlight the very powerful role that fathers play, and continue to play, in their children’s lives. The Government have recently announced that they plan to extend the law to cover carers of adult relatives from April 2007. In addition, through the Equality Bill, we will be empowering the Commission for Equality and Human Rights to carry on the important role the EOC has had in promoting equality for parents and carers. That will be done through its awareness-raising and encouragement of good practice on equality and diversity. Having said that, I do not believe that the amendment, which proposes laying on public authorities a duty to promote equality of opportunity for carers, is the best way forward. The case for further extension of the public sector duty is one of the issues that will be considered in the discrimination law review, which is under way, and to which we have referred quite a lot today. That is the right place to consider the complex issues that would arise in extending the duty to cover carers. We need to consider the issues in detail and consult interested affected parties, particularly in terms of the scope of the coverage of care. As I said earlier, the discrimination law review and its recommendations for a single equality Act will take place in the lifetime of this Parliament. That is the Government’s manifesto pledge. I warmly thank my noble friend for the amendment but I hope that she will understand why we cannot do more at the moment and will be happy to withdraw the amendment.