Equality Bill

My Lords, it is my great pleasure to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Howe of Idlicote, because she was my inspiration when she chaired the Equal Opportunities Commission. I have to say that she never let me get away with anything. Indeed, I have been so committed to the cause we are discussing as a result of her initiative. This is a welcome opportunity to pay tribute to her. I listened with interest to the noble Lord, Lord Lester, and I understand completely his concerns. But I just say to a number of those who have participated that it is a question of how we get there now. I strongly agree with the noble Baroness, Lady Howe of Idlicote, that we have to do it in a variety of ways. It is no use going down just one road. I have to say to the noble Baronesses, Lady Turner of Camden and Lady Flather, and the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss, that in many ways I am worried about opening the door to huge class actions. In the United States, we have seen what damage that can do. I am worried about provisions such as meetings in private and various other things in the amendment, but I do not think that it is necessary to go into great detail because the noble Lord has already put it in context. I believe that our proposals for compulsory pay audits limited to employers who have lost equal pay cases would mean that class actions were no longer necessary. So let us get on with it.