Equality Bill

My Lords, I do not want to hold up the debate by explaining why I am against this amendment, suffice to say the background to this is set out extremely clearly on page 90 of the Explanatory Notes. When we were legislating on race discrimination, in the prehistoric times of the 1970s, we ruled out colour bars in clubs, including golf clubs. At that stage we did not deal with sex discrimination and for the subsequent period many golf clubs practised systemic discrimination against women by admitting them as members, taking their money and then treating them less favourably. This House has debated that again and again and it is wholly beneficial that we should deal with this in the way that Clause 101 does. One of the examples given on page 90 is where, ""A private members’ golf club, which has members of both sexes, requires its female members to play only on certain days while allowing male members to play at all times"." This is an example of direct discrimination. The amendment would drive a coach and horses through Clause 101 and we would oppose it.