Equality Bill [HL]

The noble Lord, Lord Lester of Herne Hill, says that it is the duty of the commission to ensure compliance with the law. I can understand the commission saying that it thinks that a person is not complying with the law and should therefore be taken to court, but it is for the court to decide whether the person is or is not complying with the law. The noble Lord, Lord Lester, is saying that it is all right for an individual who feels distressed to have public funds at his disposal to put his case, which will cost him nothing, but it is not fair for the person against whom that case is being taken to be given public funds. He is obliged to pay everything himself against what could be a scurrilous accusation or a wrong decision by the commission. I do not think that it is fair that the commission should be able to fund a person individually but not able to provide any funds for the person against whom the complaint is made.