Equality Bill [HL]

My Lords, we welcome these amendments. I want briefly to raise one point. The existing equality agencies, especially the CRE and the EOC, have the power to take into account the equality provisions of European Community law, whether it is for gender or race. Under EU law, as under the Race Relations Act, ““race”” includes discrimination based on nationality, national origins and so on. My understanding of the legal position is that, if the CRE found some value-added EU law on discrimination based on nationality, national origins and race which went further than the Race Relations Act, under the European Communities Act 1972 the Race Relations Act has to be read and given effect compatibly. Therefore, the CRE has the power to give legal assistance so that individuals can rely on European Community law on race, as on gender. I welcome the amendment because deleting,"““equality of opportunity between men and women””," makes it clear, to me at any rate, that the reference to the equality enactments covers gender and, indeed, race—and, unless I am corrected, that it covers relevant EU law in the areas where it is linked with our equality law. These amendments make it more likely that that is the position than the previous amendments did. I welcome them on that basis. If I have it wrong, I would be very grateful to be corrected by the Minister before we approve the amendments.