Equality Bill [Lords]

No. The hon. Gentleman has just walked back into the Chamber, so I will desist. [Hon. Members: ““Give way.””] Other Members wish to speak. Under the Bill, the commission may help to take away the right of religions to insist that their teaching staff can uphold basic ethical teachings of their faith. Surely those religions should retain that right. The commission must enforce regulation 33 of the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003. Those regulations contain exceptions for religious groups, but gay rights groups loathe those exceptions and will litigate for the narrowest possible interpretation of them.