My Lords, I pay tribute to the work and the steely determination of the noble Baroness, Lady Campbell. She has been inspirational in her continuing support for what she believes to be an important principle and issue. Many of us share her passion and determination.
It is very poignant that today we are again debating the general duty of the Equality and Human Rights Commission and its principle on the 20th anniversary
of the terrible racist murder of 18 year-old Stephen Lawrence, and on the day of the memorial service that was held this afternoon in his memory, which I understand was attended by the Prime Minister and others.
Last month at an event to launch a book about the Macpherson inquiry, Doreen Lawrence said that, as a mother, for 20 years she had not been able to grieve and find closure because she had been forced to fight for justice, year after year. There are still individuals out there today who were involved in this murder and who have not been brought to justice. She wrote to the Prime Minister last November asking that he does not row back or seek to water down hard fought equalities legislation that all political parties came together to put on the statute book so recently to protect those who need protecting.
Huge progress has been made over many decades, particularly since, for example, my own family came to the United Kingdom, when racism and discrimination was rife. However, there is still much to do to ensure that our society becomes more equal, and that we maintain and build on such positive work, particularly since the Macpherson inquiry and its findings. It is irrefutable that more than a decade later, the Macpherson inquiry can rightly claim to have led to an overhaul of Britain's race relations legislation which created much stronger anti-discrimination powers that can be found anywhere in Western Europe. Attitudes towards racism and policing have now changed as a result. However, there are still very many people and communities who need to be protected and encouraged to achieve their potential and not be limited by prejudice or discrimination. We need the commission to have the tools, the ability and the duty to monitor the progress in our society.
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For these reasons I profoundly disagree with the Government’s reasoning that they wish to repeal the general duty that originated as part of their Red Tape Challenge. That is why it has been included in this Bill, on the basis that it is a,
“vague, unnecessary and obsolete provision from the Equality Act 2006”.—[Official Report, Commons, 16/4/13; col. 225.]
This is not red tape, and it costs business nothing. Where is the evidence of that? It is about vision and about the mission, principles that matter and are important. We cannot risk sliding back if we become complacent on these defining principles.
We have also been told that the commission’s duties are too broad and wide-ranging and therefore cannot focus on its work. The Minister repeated that today, and I am sure that she will say it again in the summing up. Is the Minister aware that the general duty has considerable symbolic importance and, like any major organisation, it encapsulates what it is there for and what it is meant to do and its responsibilities? Do we really want to dilute the work and the remit of the EHRC after it has already faced cuts of around 60%?
The Minister has said that the general duty dilutes its purpose; there is no evidence of this. I argue that we should not remove it, as others have done. We must still do all we can to ensure that there is respect and protection for each individual's rights and dignity, as
well as an equal opportunity to participate in society. There is no evidence, and none has been forthcoming, that by abolishing the general duty the commission will somehow be able to work more efficiently. It would risk the commission losing all credibility as the well respected and trusted human rights organisation that we have repeatedly heard the Government want it to become.
As has already been said in the arguments on this matter in both Houses and outside Parliament, the commission itself has now concluded that unless the Government can provide additional robust reasons for removing the general duty, which so far they have not done, the case for removing it has not been made. Surely we should be promoting good relations and mutual respect between able and disabled people, and between people of differing races and faiths. It is therefore appropriate and welcome that the board has now come to a collective view on this matter.
Campaigning for greater equality is at the heart of my own political beliefs and is why I became engaged in politics and in public life. I strongly believe that it would be extremely damaging for us as a country and society if we are seen to be rolling back on equality. Transparency, scrutiny and accountability remain the watchwords. Retaining the general duty is one key element of these, where we strive to become a society that values social justice and promotes greater equality. I therefore ask noble Lords to support the amendment in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Campbell, and send a strong message to the other place that the general duty does matter.