UK Parliament / Open data

Equality Bill (HL)

Debate on bills on Monday, 16 January 2006, in the House of Commons, led by Alan Johnson. The answering member was Baroness Laing of Elderslie.
Equality Bill (HL). Report stage and third reading debate. Agreed to on question. Passed

About these Parliamentary proceedings

Reference

441 c566-669 

Session

2005-06

Department

Department of Trade and Industry

Legislative stage

Third reading and Report stage

Procedure

New clauses

Chamber / Committee

House of Commons chamber

Related items

Equality Bill (HL). As amended in Standing Committee A (Vote)
Thursday, 8 December 2005
Bills
House of Commons
Legislative scrutiny : Equality Bill. Human Rights Joint Select Committee fourth report with proceedings and appendices.
Wednesday, 7 December 2005
Parliamentary committees
House of Lords
House of Commons

Proceeding contributions

Chris Bryant | 441 c570 (Link to this contribution) On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I apologise for raising this point now, because it does not direct...
John Bercow | 441 c569 (Link to this contribution) I respect the hon. Lady’s record in this field and strongly support her new clause. I put it to her ...

Show all contributions (267)
Lynne Jones | 441 c569-70 (Link to this contribution) I was coming to the point about administrative efficiency and entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman...
Lord Boswell of Aynho | 441 c574 (Link to this contribution) I entirely endorse my hon. Friend’s comments. Ministers have the maximum flexibility and the lowest ...
John Bercow | 441 c574 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend rightly refers to the fact that we are debating provision for an order-making power. ...
Lord Boswell of Aynho | 441 c572-3 (Link to this contribution) I, too, signed the new clause moved so ably by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jone...
Sandra Gidley | 441 c571-2 (Link to this contribution) I have little to add to the words of the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones), who pu...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c571 (Link to this contribution) New clause 9 should be an essential part of this Bill. As my hon. Friend the Member for Buckingham...
Speaker | 441 c570-1 (Link to this contribution) As I said to the hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant), I will look into the matter. It could be a ...
Gerald Kaufman | 441 c570 (Link to this contribution) Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I acknowledge that this is an exceptionally important d...
Speaker | 441 c570 (Link to this contribution) I do watch ““Big Brother”” and I saw the one about the cat and the one about the boxers. I know that...
Evan Harris | 441 c576-7 (Link to this contribution) The problem with having to save up points is that one does not have time to make them all in an inte...
Meg Munn | 441 c577 (Link to this contribution) As I said, I do not regard the issues as being without solutions. However, they need to be resolved ...
John Bercow | 441 c578 (Link to this contribution) Does the hon. Gentleman agree that this is not a matter only of principle, although the principle is...
John Bercow | 441 c577 (Link to this contribution) I think that the Minister is giving way to me rather than to her right hon. Friend, and I am gratefu...
Lynne Jones | 441 c577 (Link to this contribution) I want to comment on the two examples that my hon. Friend gave—single-sex hospital wards and prisons...
Meg Munn | 441 c577 (Link to this contribution) As I just said, that is unnecessary.
Meg Munn | 441 c574-5 (Link to this contribution) I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) for raising the issue and ...
Kali Mountford | 441 c575 (Link to this contribution) I am trying to gather some understanding of my hon. Friend’s position, especially as she says that w...
Meg Munn | 441 c575 (Link to this contribution) Will the hon. Gentleman contain himself until I have responded to the point made by my hon. Friend t...
Meg Munn | 441 c575 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman wishes to establish why such an order-making power has not been added to the Bill...
Lord Boswell of Aynho | 441 c575 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Lady is deploying arguments that, as far as I know, are precisely those that were advanced ...
Meg Munn | 441 c575-6 (Link to this contribution) I will make some progress because hon. Members might find that I refer to the points that they wish ...
Meg Munn | 441 c576 (Link to this contribution) I said to the hon. Gentleman that I wanted to proceed with my speech and that he might find that he ...
Meg Munn | 441 c575 (Link to this contribution) If my hon. Friend will bear with me on the question of timing, I shall come to it shortly. I will re...
David Lepper | 441 c581-2 (Link to this contribution) On the point made by the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mrs. Laing), in 2001, I went with two of my ...
Lynne Jones | 441 c582 (Link to this contribution) I agree. The Minister’s words will be recorded in the written record of these proceedings. The Gover...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c581 (Link to this contribution) Does the hon. Lady agree that, although the whole House trusts this particular Minister, who has giv...
Lynne Jones | 441 c581 (Link to this contribution) I do not entirely agree that the Government are not trustworthy in this matter. I am prepared to acc...
Meg Munn | 441 c588 (Link to this contribution) In Committee, the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) tabled similar amendments r...
Dominic Grieve | 441 c588 (Link to this contribution) Will the Minister confirm that all those functions are, in fact, judicially reviewable, if a local e...
Evan Harris | 441 c585-7 (Link to this contribution) I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. New clause 10, which is in my name, has the s...
Dominic Grieve | 441 c587-8 (Link to this contribution) I commend the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) on his ingenuity in tabling t...
Evan Harris | 441 c582 (Link to this contribution) Of course, everyone welcomes the Minister’s assurances as far as they go, but they do not go further...
Lynne Jones | 441 c582 (Link to this contribution) As I said, I am prepared to accept the Minister’s assurances, although I ask her to look at the clau...
Evan Harris | 441 c578-9 (Link to this contribution) That is right. It will not surprise the hon. Gentleman to know, given that my party introduced a sin...
Gerald Kaufman | 441 c579-80 (Link to this contribution) : The Government have rightly accumulated a good deal of credit on this issue in previous legislatio...
Meg Munn | 441 c580 (Link to this contribution) I am happy to confirm that that is precisely our intention. We wish to ensure that the consultation ...
Meg Munn | 441 c581 (Link to this contribution) Does my hon. Friend agree that new clause 9 does not mean that action will be taken, because it only...
Rob Marris | 441 c581 (Link to this contribution) I believe that there is a contradiction between what the Minister said about the new clause and clau...
Lynne Jones | 441 c581 (Link to this contribution) I am not at all convinced by the Government’s reasons for not accepting the new clause, but, in view...
Gerald Kaufman | 441 c580 (Link to this contribution) I am not questioning in any way the good faith of my hon. Friend or the Government. It is a fact of ...
Lynne Jones | 441 c580 (Link to this contribution) The Minister has given certain assurances. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the minimum requirem...
Gerald Kaufman | 441 c580 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend is right, but I am trying to find a new way. It is possible, but far from certain, th...
Rob Marris | 441 c580-1 (Link to this contribution) As ever, my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton (Sir Gerald Kaufman) said much of wh...
Keith Vaz | 441 c601 (Link to this contribution) That is an important point, which must be pursued. The way in which the consultation process has tak...
Diane Abbott | 441 c601 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend takes us back in time. When he said that the commissioners could be 10 white men, the...
Keith Vaz | 441 c601 (Link to this contribution) Absolutely. I am so glad that my hon. Friend has taken me on to my second point, which I have been t...
David Winnick | 441 c601 (Link to this contribution) Does my hon. Friend accept that much of the argument against what he is putting forward was put far ...
Keith Vaz | 441 c600 (Link to this contribution) We are cognisant of it. However, my hon. Friend talks about the Polish community, which is white. Al...
Rob Marris | 441 c600 (Link to this contribution) I am listening with interest because I am torn on this issue. There must be representation across th...
Keith Vaz | 441 c601 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman is right to this extent: a person can empathise even if he or she does not have a...
Philip Davies | 441 c600-1 (Link to this contribution) Is not the flaw in the hon. Gentleman’s argument in favour of having certain quotas of people on the...
Keith Vaz | 441 c601 (Link to this contribution) I will give way only because it is the hon. Gentleman.
John Bercow | 441 c601 (Link to this contribution) Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c604-5 (Link to this contribution) : The hon. Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz) has made an important and eloquent speech. He ment...
Keith Vaz | 441 c604 (Link to this contribution) I understand the point that the hon. Gentleman is making, and I accept that he is sincere. The fact ...
Keith Vaz | 441 c604 (Link to this contribution) I shall give way for the final time to the hon. Gentleman.
Keith Vaz | 441 c603-4 (Link to this contribution) Before I respond, may I commend my hon. Friend on his work on Britishness? I read his excellent news...
Keith Vaz | 441 c605 (Link to this contribution) I therefore assume that the hon. Lady will support the amendment.
John Bercow | 441 c606 (Link to this contribution) I know that my hon. Friend performed with great skill and dexterity in the Standing Committee on the...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c606 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman is mistaken—I am not struggling at all. My speech in Committee was made prior to ...
Keith Vaz | 441 c607 (Link to this contribution) I like the hon. Lady, but I do not forgive her, because this moment represents a genuine opportunity...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c606-7 (Link to this contribution) As usual, my hon. Friend asks a very precise question. In principle, there is nothing wrong with the...
Lord Boswell of Aynho | 441 c607 (Link to this contribution) : It might assist my hon. Friend if I were to tell her my own view, without anticipating any speech ...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c607 (Link to this contribution) I am tempted by the hon. Gentleman’s flattery, but I simply repeat that in principle we support what...
Rob Marris | 441 c607-8 (Link to this contribution) I too am a lawyer, although perhaps not as cautious as the hon. Lady. I see no Conservative amendmen...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c607 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend is, as ever, extremely wise and experienced in these matters. He is entirely right an...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c606 (Link to this contribution) My amendment was slightly different from the hon. Gentleman’s amendment. [Interruption.] The hon. Ge...
Keith Vaz | 441 c606 (Link to this contribution) I am surprised by the hon. Lady, because I should have thought that under the new leadership of the ...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c609 (Link to this contribution) At present, discrimination is tackled by £48 million a year and it is well done. I pay tribute to th...
Rob Marris | 441 c609 (Link to this contribution) We are considering a new body that will cover six strands, but the difference between 48 and 70 is l...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c608-9 (Link to this contribution) The Minister is right. The new commission will cost twice as much. We had that argument previously. ...
Meg Munn | 441 c608 (Link to this contribution) I am puzzled by the hon. Lady’s view. She says that the figure has been multiplied many times. The b...
Speaker | 441 c609 (Link to this contribution) Order. May I remind hon. Members of the amendment under discussion? They should confine their remark...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c608 (Link to this contribution) There is no point in the hon. Gentleman continuing to ask me questions, because I am not the Ministe...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c608 (Link to this contribution) I have been examining the principles that we are debating. Unfortunately, in my position, I do not h...
Keith Vaz | 441 c595 (Link to this contribution) It is regrettable, but what my hon. Friend said about that meeting was important. At least, the then...
Keith Vaz | 441 c593-4 (Link to this contribution) Thank you for calling me so early in the debate, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I wish to support amendments No...
Diane Abbott | 441 c594 (Link to this contribution) Two years ago, my hon. Friend and I, and a group of black and Asian Members of this and the other ...
Evan Harris | 441 c589-90 (Link to this contribution) I am reassured and hope that the hon. Gentleman agrees that, if a party believes in better regulatio...
Speaker | 441 c590-3 (Link to this contribution) With this it will be convenient to discuss the following amendments: No. 23, in clause 39, page 26, ...
Evan Harris | 441 c589 (Link to this contribution) The Minister’s excellent speech got better as it went along, and was somewhat better received, at le...
Dominic Grieve | 441 c589 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman is wrong to suggest that I do not think that guidance may not, on occasion, be us...
Meg Munn | 441 c588-9 (Link to this contribution) That is certainly my understanding. The exemption has been included merely as a protection for loca...
Dawn Butler | 441 c597 (Link to this contribution) Does my hon. Friend agree that if the CEHR is set up without any black or women commissioners, it wi...
Philip Davies | 441 c597-8 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman makes his case as eloquently as he always does, but the premise of his argument a...
Keith Vaz | 441 c598 (Link to this contribution) If an organisation is not working or if it can be improved, let us improve it. I have my own story a...
Diane Abbott | 441 c595 (Link to this contribution) Does my hon. Friend agree that no—not one—reputable black or Asian group supports the commission goi...
Keith Vaz | 441 c595 (Link to this contribution) I agree with my hon. Friend. She is right. This is a united voice in favour of the establishment of ...
Jeremy Hunt | 441 c595-6 (Link to this contribution) Does the hon. Gentleman agree that one of the most important roles of organisations campaigning agai...
Keith Vaz | 441 c596-7 (Link to this contribution) I agree with the hon. Gentleman. It is important that we have such focus. I am not saying that I do ...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c597 (Link to this contribution) I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way. If he has just paid me a compliment—I am never sure—I tha...
Keith Vaz | 441 c597 (Link to this contribution) It was meant as a compliment; I am always happy to pay the hon. Lady compliments. However, I do not ...
Keith Vaz | 441 c600 (Link to this contribution) I understand the hon. Gentleman’s point, but I am happy to start with pro rata representation given ...
Keith Vaz | 441 c600 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and she takes me on to my next topic, policy and decision making...
Bob Spink | 441 c600 (Link to this contribution) Is the hon. Gentleman not selling his case rather short by calling only for pro rata representation ...
Keith Vaz | 441 c598 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. I am not familiar with the life of Lord Halifax, but he make...
John Bercow | 441 c598-9 (Link to this contribution) On a point of clarification, does the hon. Gentleman think that the case for guaranteed representati...
Lord Boswell of Aynho | 441 c598 (Link to this contribution) I have a lot of sympathy with the motivation behind the points that the hon. Gentleman is making. I ...
Keith Vaz | 441 c599 (Link to this contribution) It is an interesting point and I absolutely agree with the hon. Gentleman. There should be at least ...
Diane Abbott | 441 c599-600 (Link to this contribution) On the question of representation, does my hon. Friend agree that it is important to nail the allega...
Keith Vaz | 441 c599 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman has an excellent record on these issues. Even though he represents a constituency...
John Bercow | 441 c599 (Link to this contribution) I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving me such a candid and straightforward answer. Further ...
John McDonnell | 441 c611-2 (Link to this contribution) It is true that there is a code of practice—it is helpful and it should be applied generally. It wou...
Lord Boswell of Aynho | 441 c611 (Link to this contribution) : I have some sympathy with the point that the hon. Gentleman has made about the Learning and Skills...
John McDonnell | 441 c610-1 (Link to this contribution) I want to speak about the amendments that I tabled, but I begin my associating myself with those tab...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c609-10 (Link to this contribution) Certainly, Madam Deputy Speaker. I do not need to answer the hon. Lady’s question because I have sai...
Sandra Gidley | 441 c613-4 (Link to this contribution) I have no quarrel with that argument and I am sympathetic to the intent of the amendments. In some ...
Keith Vaz | 441 c614 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Lady mentioned that she wishes to trust the new body on the issue of representation, but wh...
Sandra Gidley | 441 c613 (Link to this contribution) : I listened with great interest to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz). I have not chan...
Keith Vaz | 441 c613 (Link to this contribution) My point was that there is a lot of common ground on the equalities agenda, but the race agenda that...
James Brokenshire | 441 c612 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman is making an interesting point. Does he agree that for the new commission to be e...
John McDonnell | 441 c612-3 (Link to this contribution) I have no doubt that the staff who serve the existing commissions will seek to serve the new one wit...
Sandra Gidley | 441 c614 (Link to this contribution) We have no particular problems with that, but that is the whole difficulty. Ideally, I would prefer ...
Roger Berry | 441 c614 (Link to this contribution) Will the hon. Lady and her colleagues support or oppose the Bill’s provision that at least one commi...
Hywel Williams | 441 c614-5 (Link to this contribution) Does the hon. Lady accept that the first qualification for being a commissioner is a general underst...
Sandra Gidley | 441 c614 (Link to this contribution) We have not yet declared our position, so the hon. Gentleman will have to wait and see. Were we to ...
Roger Berry | 441 c616-7 (Link to this contribution) It is a pleasure to rise to speak to the amendments that stand in my name and to welcome the Bill, w...
Rob Marris | 441 c615 (Link to this contribution) I will pose to the hon. Lady the question that I attempted to pose to the hon. Member for Epping For...
Sandra Gidley | 441 c615 (Link to this contribution) I understand the hon. Gentleman’s point but I have addressed it to a certain extent. This is an occa...
Philip Davies | 441 c615-6 (Link to this contribution) : The hon. Lady is making a thoughtful and balanced speech. Does she agree that the terms of recruit...
Sandra Gidley | 441 c616 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman raises one of the key points. The danger with the amendments is that people are c...
Roger Berry | 441 c617-8 (Link to this contribution) I was speaking to amendment No. 18 and was going to come to No. 16 in a moment. Amendment No. 18 is ...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c617 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman is arguing two separate points and answers some of the questions that the hon. Me...
Diane Abbott | 441 c619 (Link to this contribution) Does my hon. Friend agree that it is easy to trivialise the arguments in favour of representation? S...
Roger Berry | 441 c618-9 (Link to this contribution) Yes, where does one begin? First, the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) may have noticed from ...
Philip Davies | 441 c618 (Link to this contribution) I pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman’s work on disability over many years, but will he explain what s...
John Bercow | 441 c623 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend makes his point pithily and eloquently, as ever. With due respect, may I take him bac...
Lord Boswell of Aynho | 441 c623-4 (Link to this contribution) I agree, and had I wished to indulge myself earlier I would have taken up the hon. Lady on a related...
Roger Berry | 441 c619-20 (Link to this contribution) I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. Creating a more representative commission would strengthen th...
Lord Boswell of Aynho | 441 c621-3 (Link to this contribution) It is a genuine pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Kingswood (Roger Berry), who has considerable...
Harry Cohen | 441 c629 (Link to this contribution) That sort of issue provides a perfect case for having a London committee. That point could not be mo...
David Winnick | 441 c629 (Link to this contribution) I am not a London Member, but I am sympathetic to what my hon. Friend is saying. I introduce what is...
Harry Cohen | 441 c627-8 (Link to this contribution) It is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbo...
Diane Abbott | 441 c625-7 (Link to this contribution) No, I must make progress. Of course, I support bringing all the equality strands into one commissio...
Sadiq Khan | 441 c628 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend made the point that we will be losing the race equality councils and the local connec...
Philip Davies | 441 c624-5 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Lady is here because of her ability, and so is the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Keith V...
Diane Abbott | 441 c624 (Link to this contribution) I wish to speak in support of the amendments that would introduce a race committee and provide pro...
Diane Abbott | 441 c625 (Link to this contribution) Of course, in an ideal world colour, gender, sexuality or physical challenges would not matter, but ...
Harry Cohen | 441 c629-30 (Link to this contribution) I want to return to that point, which is well made. It would be better if there were a London commit...
Meg Munn | 441 c630 (Link to this contribution) Perhaps my hon. Friend would like to come to Sheffield to talk to the range of civil servants who wo...
Andrew Pelling | 441 c629 (Link to this contribution) I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for the points that he is making, because there is dynamic chang...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c657 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend is right and I hope that we will hear more from my hon. Friend the Member for Beacons...
Diane Abbott | 441 c657-8 (Link to this contribution) I wish to welcome the principle of a unified commission and I congratulate Ministers on introducing ...
Evan Harris | 441 c658-9 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend the Member for Romsey (Sandra Gidley) wanted to be here, but has been called away to ...
Liz Blackman | 441 c659-61 (Link to this contribution) I endorse all the compliments that have been given in the Chamber this evening. I served on the Stan...
Jeremy Hunt | 441 c661-3 (Link to this contribution) : I am very pleased to have the opportunity to speak after the hon. Member for Erewash (Liz Blackman...
Baroness Keeley | 441 c663-4 (Link to this contribution) We can see that there is genuine consensus on the Bill both inside and outside the House. My hon. Fr...
John Bercow | 441 c664 (Link to this contribution) The fifth of April 2005 witnessed the first of the two Second Reading debates on the Bill that this ...
Gerald Howarth | 441 c667-8 (Link to this contribution) That has happened in plenty of cases where the decision was changed under public protest. There was ...
Keith Vaz | 441 c664-5 (Link to this contribution) : I begin by thanking the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) for his kind comments about both ...
Gerald Howarth | 441 c666-7 (Link to this contribution) I strongly support the observations made by my neighbour and hon. Friend the Member for South-West S...
Vera Baird | 441 c668-9 (Link to this contribution) Oh dear—I am afraid that there are still little patches of the nasty party around. I was on the Joi...
Gerald Howarth | 441 c668 (Link to this contribution) That encompasses the entire history of the world, and we face a new, exciting era. It is significan...
Dominic Grieve | 441 c645 (Link to this contribution) I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Meg Munn | 441 c645 (Link to this contribution) On that note, I conclude my contribution to this part of the debate.
Meg Munn | 441 c646 (Link to this contribution) I beg to move Government amendment No. 11, in page 12, line 1, leave out ‘24(1)(a).’ and insert ‘24(...
Evan Harris | 441 c648 (Link to this contribution) I thank the Minister and her colleagues for listening to the representations that I and others have ...
Meg Munn | 441 c646-8 (Link to this contribution) Government amendment No. 11, like most of this group, is minor and technical. It corrects an anomaly...
Meg Munn | 441 c648 (Link to this contribution) I am happy to give the hon. Gentleman that commitment and also to say that the discrimination law re...
Harry Cohen | 441 c645 (Link to this contribution) The Minister’s comments about the further work that is required are very helpful. I hope that she wi...
Meg Munn | 441 c645 (Link to this contribution) I am pleased to make my hon. Friend happy. Amendment No. 42 would ensure that a financial statement...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c645 (Link to this contribution) I accept the Minister’s assurances, and I will not press my amendment. I look forward to the publica...
John McDonnell | 441 c651 (Link to this contribution) I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Meg Munn | 441 c650-1 (Link to this contribution) I thank my hon. Friend for tabling his amendments. As hon. Members might be aware, the other place h...
John McDonnell | 441 c649-50 (Link to this contribution) I should like to speak to amendments Nos. 21 and 22, which deal with legal assistance and casework. ...
Speaker | 441 c649 (Link to this contribution) With this it will be convenient to discuss the following amendments: No. 22, in page 19, line 22, a...
Evan Harris | 441 c652 (Link to this contribution) I beg to move amendment No. 27, in page 21, line 14, at end insert—
Dominic Grieve | 441 c649;441 c648-9 (Link to this contribution) Amendment No. 12 makes the reading of that particular provision much easier. Given that we debated t...
Evan Harris | 441 c648-9;441 c648 (Link to this contribution) I would like to say how grateful I am that the Minister has responded to the concerns that I raised ...
Meg Munn | 441 c649;441 c648 (Link to this contribution) It is pleasing to make so many people happy. On that basis, I commend the amendment to the House.
Meg Munn | 441 c642 (Link to this contribution) I am not coming to the end of my speech, despite what hon. Members think, although I am getting clos...
Meg Munn | 441 c642 (Link to this contribution) I am happy to give my hon. Friend that assurance. Indeed, I have met the majority of groups that she...
Dawn Butler | 441 c641-2 (Link to this contribution) : The Minister talked about a review headed by Trevor Phillips. Can she give the House an assurance ...
Speaker | 441 c642 (Link to this contribution) Order. Is the Minister giving way? I cannot allow two hon. Members to be on their feet at the same t...
Keith Vaz | 441 c642 (Link to this contribution) Will the Minister allow to me to intervene? She sounds as though she is about to embark on her peror...
Meg Munn | 441 c641 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend makes an interesting point. We want to set up a body that is independent of Governmen...
John McDonnell | 441 c641 (Link to this contribution) : As powers will be given to the new body to establish the committees, the Minister may wish to expr...
Meg Munn | 441 c641 (Link to this contribution) Powers are available to the commission to do so, and I have made my expectations clear. It is theref...
Meg Munn | 441 c640-1 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend is getting into great difficulties about what ““inconceivable”” is. I will give furth...
Meg Munn | 441 c644-5 (Link to this contribution) I am happy to convene such a meeting. The position taken by my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton an...
Keith Vaz | 441 c644 (Link to this contribution) I apologise for intervening again, but the point raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, Sout...
Meg Munn | 441 c644 (Link to this contribution) I thank my hon. Friend for her intervention. What is encouraging about this process is that the numb...
Keith Vaz | 441 c643 (Link to this contribution) On that basis, I will not press my amendment to a vote this evening.
Meg Munn | 441 c643 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend is almost right. I do not want to go as far as him, because my confidence that the co...
Keith Vaz | 441 c643 (Link to this contribution) The Minister has moved a long way on representation today. Let us be clear about the race committee:...
Speaker | 441 c642 (Link to this contribution) Order. Perhaps the hon. Lady would like to reassure her hon. Friend that it is the end of the beginn...
Meg Munn | 441 c642-3 (Link to this contribution) I think that it is the beginning of the end, but it is not the end. Indeed, I was about to say that ...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c634 (Link to this contribution) I did answer the question. My answer was precisely that the amount was the £48 million that it is at...
Rob Marris | 441 c634 (Link to this contribution) That reply is rather interesting and revealing. If I go into a retailer and ask the price of a telev...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c634 (Link to this contribution) It is not possible to put an exact price on defending and promoting equality, which is a matter of p...
Rob Marris | 441 c634-5 (Link to this contribution) I am now slightly more confused because I though that the hon. Lady was putting a price on that earl...
Meg Munn | 441 c635-6 (Link to this contribution) I thank hon. Members, in particular my hon. Friends, for raising some important issues relating to t...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c636 (Link to this contribution) I accept the Minister’s explanation which, combined with the impassioned speeches made by some Labou...
Meg Munn | 441 c636-7 (Link to this contribution) I thank the hon. Lady. Amendments Nos. 23 and 24, tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and...
Rob Marris | 441 c637 (Link to this contribution) Will my hon. Friend assure my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington and me that the welcom...
Meg Munn | 441 c637 (Link to this contribution) Yes, that is my understanding. In amendments Nos. 16, 17, 18 and 20, my hon. Friends the Members fo...
Diane Abbott | 441 c637 (Link to this contribution) I understand the logic of saying that no single group should specifically be represented among the c...
Meg Munn | 441 c637-8 (Link to this contribution) If my hon. Friend will bear with me, I shall make that clear well before the end of my speech and ho...
Roger Berry | 441 c638 (Link to this contribution) Will my hon. Friend explain why reference in the Bill to the composition of the board refers to disa...
Meg Munn | 441 c637 (Link to this contribution) I ask my hon. Friend to bear with me. I shall speak to that matter later in my speech and I am confi...
Keith Vaz | 441 c637 (Link to this contribution) I hope that my hon. Friend will excuse me for not waiting until the end of her speech to intervene, ...
Meg Munn | 441 c638-40 (Link to this contribution) I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will want to give due regard to a range o...
Diane Abbott | 441 c640 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend argues that the arrangements that she proposes for the commission do not represent a ...
Meg Munn | 441 c638 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friends are impatient. I will get there, I promise.
Keith Vaz | 441 c638 (Link to this contribution) Before the Minister gets there, I must say that she has listened to what we have been saying, and sh...
Meg Munn | 441 c640 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend makes my argument, just as it would be if she had said that there would have been abs...
Keith Vaz | 441 c640 (Link to this contribution) The Minister keeps saying ““inconceivable””. That means that it may happen. Even if there is a 1 per...
Harry Cohen | 441 c630 (Link to this contribution) I take that point and I agree with moving some of the ministries out of London. Why do we not have t...
Baroness Keeley | 441 c630 (Link to this contribution) I apologise for not being present earlier, but I have been following the debate elsewhere. Many hon...
Harry Cohen | 441 c631 (Link to this contribution) I agree with that very well made point. That is why I think that a London committee would be extreme...
Harry Cohen | 441 c630 (Link to this contribution) I agree that the commission must be integrated and cover the whole country and that it needs to be e...
Sandra Gidley | 441 c630 (Link to this contribution) Does the hon. Gentleman consider the EOC and the Disability Rights Commission to be ineffective beca...
Harry Cohen | 441 c630 (Link to this contribution) I am not saying that those bodies are ineffective, although I would have liked both to have been mor...
Dawn Butler | 441 c630-1 (Link to this contribution) As my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz) said, who will carry the mantle of race...
Rob Marris | 441 c632-3 (Link to this contribution) I somewhat disagree with my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Harry Cohen). I do not d...
Diane Abbott | 441 c631 (Link to this contribution) Does my hon. Friend agree that, of course, Manchester is a wonderful city and that we support moves ...
Harry Cohen | 441 c631-2 (Link to this contribution) Absolutely, and that fear was expressed in the comments I have just read out, and particularly by th...
John McDonnell | 441 c631 (Link to this contribution) I understand the argument of London versus the regions, but many of us in London have supported meas...
Harry Cohen | 441 c631 (Link to this contribution) That is a very well made point. I will not dwell on it but we have had representations from the DRC ...
Sadiq Khan | 441 c633 (Link to this contribution) Even if the costs were as large as Her Majesty’s official Opposition suggest, does my hon. Friend ag...
Rob Marris | 441 c633-4 (Link to this contribution) I entirely agree and touched on that matter earlier when I made an intervention on the hon. Member f...
Rob Marris | 441 c633 (Link to this contribution) I am grateful to the hon. Member for Epping Forest, but I will not go for double or quits, as my hon...
Dominic Grieve | 441 c654 (Link to this contribution) On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I feel obliged to hope that you might point out to those in...
Dominic Grieve | 441 c653 (Link to this contribution) Given the amount of time left, this intervention will be exceptionally brief, but I have waited long...
Speaker | 441 c653 (Link to this contribution) With this it will be convenient to discuss the following amendments: No. 31, in clause 46, page 30,...
Dominic Grieve | 441 c653 (Link to this contribution) In light of the lead amendment in this group, amendment No. 19, not being moved, I beg to move amend...
Evan Harris | 441 c653 (Link to this contribution) I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Helen Goodman | 441 c655 (Link to this contribution) Will my right hon. Friend give way?
Alan Johnson | 441 c655 (Link to this contribution) No. The commission will assume its powers and functions in October 2007, with race folding in two ye...
Speaker | 441 c654 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman knows that that is not something on which the Chair can adjudicate, but his words...
Alan Johnson | 441 c654-5 (Link to this contribution) I beg to move, That the Bill be read a Third time. All parts of this House and the other place have...
Evan Harris | 441 c577-8 (Link to this contribution) I was not proposing initially to add further to the wise words of my hon. Friend the Member for Roms...
Meg Munn | 441 c577 (Link to this contribution) What I have said is that because the EU directive sets out the matter, we are in a position to work ...
Jeremy Hunt | 441 c604 (Link to this contribution) I thank the hon. Gentleman for generously accepting my interventions. He has spoken extremely eloque...
Speaker | 441 c646 (Link to this contribution) With this it will be convenient to consider the motion that clause 28 be transferred to the end of l...
Sandra Gidley | 441 c615 (Link to this contribution) The issue of direct experience is fraught with problems, particularly in relation to disability. As ...
Alan Johnson | 441 c655-6 (Link to this contribution) No, I will not. Clause 10 emphasises in law the priority of ensuring good community relations and h...
Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 441 c656-7 (Link to this contribution) For once, I can say yes to the Secretary of State. He hopes that we will all support the Bill. He co...
Lord Wills | 441 c603 (Link to this contribution) I have been listening very carefully to the case that my hon. Friend is making. While I understand t...
Keith Vaz | 441 c602-3 (Link to this contribution) We have had Clement Attlee and Lord Halifax. So goodness knows who we are going to hear from next. I...
John Bercow | 441 c601-2 (Link to this contribution) I am genuinely glad that I have been in my place to listen to the hon. Gentleman’s speech. I am not ...
Dawn Butler | 441 c609 (Link to this contribution) : Equal pay, with men and women paid equally, would improve the economy. Do not the new compassionat...
Keith Vaz | 441 c595 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend is now going to tell me that there was another occasion, but my point is important, b...
Harry Cohen | 441 c628-9 (Link to this contribution) Absolutely. My hon. Friend has been looking over my shoulder at the next point in my speech, which c...
Meg Munn | 441 c652-3 (Link to this contribution) The legal effect of this amendment is highly ambiguous and for that reason alone the Government must...
John McDonnell | 441 c649 (Link to this contribution) I beg to move amendment No. 21, in page 18, line 44, leave out from ‘Commission’ to end of line 45 a...
Diane Abbott | 441 c644 (Link to this contribution) : The black and Asian communities will be pleased that the Minister appears to have moved towards ou...
Lynne Jones | 441 c566-9 (Link to this contribution) I beg to move that the clause be read a Second time. The new clause is intended to enable the prote...
Keith Vaz | 441 c597 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The commission will have no credibility at all. Not even warm wo...
Keith Vaz | 441 c641 (Link to this contribution) Following the suggestion of my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell), the...
Meg Munn | 441 c644 (Link to this contribution) I thank my hon. Friend for making that clear. I understand the concern that the issue has raised amo...

Subjects

Disability
Admissions
Age
Disability Rights Commission
Commission for Racial Equality
Bureaucracy
Delegated legislation
Committees
Equality
Human rights
EU law
Gender
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Equal Opportunities Commission
Exemptions
Faith schools
Harassment
Legal representation
Facilities
Powers
Public appointments
Pupils
Staff
Race relations
Schools
Religion
Transport
Small businesses
Sexuality
Transgender people

Legislation

Equality Bill (HL) 2005-06

Link

View this Parliamentary proceeding on www.publications.parliament.uk
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