European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) Order 2009

I am grateful to the Minister. I understand everything he has said, but what is not clear is why a narrow reservation to deal with the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, would not suffice. Why is it necessary and proportionate to have a sweeping reservation that excludes from the entire employment and occupation provisions both under the convention and in the Equality Bill under our domestic law every aspect of recruitment, training, promotion, terms and conditions and terms of service throughout the entire Armed Forces? I do not understand why anything the Minister has said so far indicates the need for that kind of reservation when, as the noble Lord, Lord Hannay, has indicated, it does not apply to the police, the fire service, and certainly not to women, transsexuals or others under existing domestic law. Again, why is it necessary to have this extraordinary reservation in place? Indeed, where is the EU competence for a similar reservation to enter into EU law if that is what is proposed?