My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his reply and to all those who have spoken—my co-signatories to the amendment and also the noble Lord, Lord Dykes, and the noble and learned Lord, Lord Goldsmith, to whom I am very grateful for his remarks. I should say that the advisory committee was making six appointments, so perhaps it was not as difficult as it sometimes is to be appointed. I should also say that it is a very strong line-up of other people who have been appointed, so it will be a privilege to serve among them. I particularly want to draw attention to the outstanding qualities of the others who have been appointed; it is not just me.
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I am grateful for the support for the amendments that I tabled, which has come not just from the signatories but from the noble Lord Dykes, and from the Opposition. I am grateful for the government amendment, which has extended the sections covered not just to Sections 7(1) and 9, Section 8 having gone, but to Section 17(1). I express appreciation for that, but I am a bit disappointed that the Minister has not really taken on board what is perhaps the main thrust of our amendments—to strengthen ministerial statements so as to more fully and effectively implement the Government’s commitment to maintain equality protections in the legislation.
Our amendments were not seeking to do anything more or less than effectively enshrine the Government’s commitment in the Bill; there is no difference in substance between us and the Government. Our difference is simply over whether the Government have effectively enshrined their commitment to maintain equality protections in the Bill—and I think that I and other speakers have shown that the Government have not done this as effectively as they might. They keep parroting the mantra that a political commitment does not translate into legislation—but that is rubbish. Of course it does not translate into legislation if you do not translate it properly and do not frame legislation so as to incorporate the political commitment—but there is no problem about translating a political commitment. Most legislation is a political commitment, after all; there is no problem about translating it into legislation if you only do it properly, and it is our contention that the Government have not gone about it as effectively as they might. There is no difference between us as to the commitment; the difference is simply that they have not gone about translating the commitment into legislation as effectively as they might. They have gone some of the way, following the call from the Women and Equalities Select Committee, but we have shown them by these amendments how they could do it better, and I am rather disappointed that they have not taken that point on board.
However, we have made the point as fully and effectively as we can and, at this stage, I do not wish to try to patience of the House by calling a Division, so I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.