Equality Bill

My Lords, Amendment 106A is yet another attempt to limit the powers of governors and goes specifically against what was agreed in the Education Inspections Act 2006, when this House removed that prohibition. We on these Benches see no reason to limit the power of governors and the rights of faith-based schools to maintain the ethos they are pledged to deliver by their own terms of endowment. Amendments 124, 124 and 137 pursue this same line by attempting to undermine the ability of governors to maintain that ethos through appointments and dismissals. I apologise to the noble Baroness, Lady Tuner, but we do not find these amendments helpful. We feel that they could well impair the excellent work done by so many faith schools, often in deprived areas. Yet again, these Benches wish to maintain the status quo in this area in order to support the excellent work of faith schools and to preserve that delicate balance between the right to hold differing religious beliefs and mutual tolerance.