Equality Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 79:"Page 4, line 11, at end insert ““, and" (h)   work towards the elimination of unlawful discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services in respect of all groups or classes of persons described in section 11(2)”” The noble Baroness said: Amendment No. 79 stands in my name and that of my noble friend Lady Gibson. On Second Reading, I pointed out that Lesbian and gay people are still not protected against discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services. I understand that there will be a new equalities Bill where this omission could be dealt with. However, in this Bill, while provision is made to provide protection against discrimination in these areas on grounds of religion or belief, no such provision is made for gay and Lesbian people. There is a great deal of evidence available about discrimination in the private sector, by insurance companies, holiday companies, hotels and also by public services such as the NHS. Stonewall has cited a number of instances of discrimination and claims that   it is quite widespread. Hotel and holiday accommodation can be refused to gay couples and there is no legal redress at all because there is no right against such discrimination. In terms of policing, recent statistics show that the number of homophobic attacks is on the increase. We still have a fair amount of homophobia around. Many Lesbian and gay people feel unhappy reporting crimes involving their sexual orientation due to fears of not being believed, or even of being ridiculed. The TUC also supports the need to amend legislation in order to provide protection against such discrimination. It says:"““Such discrimination is widespread, and occurs in a variety of ways such as refusal of health care, insurance and housing””." Part 2 of the Bill already takes this step for religious discrimination. We believe it would be right also to include parallel provisions on protection against sexual orientation discrimination at this stage, rather than leaving it to wait until the single equality Act. I had some difficulty in devising a suitable form of wording because of the way in which this Bill is framed. I have therefore added it to the list of requirements that the commission should seek to deal with, and then relate that to the communities listed in Clause 11(2) of the Bill, which includes sexual orientation. I hope that I have managed to achieve my objective, which is to provide in this Bill parallel protection for gay, Lesbian and bisexual people in the same way as protection for religious people is provided. I beg to move.