Sexual Orientation Discrimination

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Alan Johnson) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. I am today publishing a consultation paper that sets out our proposals for using a power included in the Equality Act 2006 to make regulations that prohibit sexual orientation discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services in education and in the exercise of public functions. We propose to lay these regulations in the House in October. They will be subject to the affirmative procedure. I have placed copies of the consultation paper in the Library. This seeks views on specific points about the range of activities that should be covered by the regulations, and on whether any exceptions should be provided from them to ensure that the protection from sexual orientation discrimination that is introduced is effective and appropriately targeted. The consultation period will last for 12 weeks, closing on 5 June.