Equality Bill

My Lords, it is not my intention to have a debate tonight about Protocol 7. That is a completely separate matter and no doubt can be debated hereafter if necessary. All I am concerned to do tonight is to sweep away archaic and outmoded provisions and secure equality between the spouses in that respect. One advantage of that would be to leave it open to the Government to take that further step. As far as the other point is concerned, I am not a family lawyer. I have not the faintest idea whether the comments of Lord Williams of Mostyn and the events in the House of Lords did or did not have the effect he said. However, it seems to me that the Government can now tell us whether or not they think that this is necessary.