rs991601.233-238

House of Commons

Session 2005 - 06
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament

Report Stage Proceedings: 16th January 2006
233

Equality Bill–[ [], continued

(3)
Omit regulation 3(2) of the Regulations.”’.

Roger Berry

Keith Vaz

Not called  16

Page  60  [Schedule  1],  leave out lines 13 to 18 and insert—

‘(a)
ensure that no fewer than one half of the Commissioners have personal

or direct experience of one or more of the causes of discrimination or

prejudice referred to in section 10(2), and

(b)
have regard to the desirability of their together having experience and

knowledge relating to the matters in respect of which the Commission

has functions, including, in particular, human rights.’.

Roger Berry

Keith Vaz

Not called  17

Page  60,  line  19  [Schedule  1],  leave out sub-paragraph (2).

John McDonnell

Ms Katy Clark

Mrs Linda Riordan

Kelvin Hopkins

Lynne Jones

Jeremy Corbyn

Not called  20

Page  60,  line  33  [Schedule  1],  at end insert—

‘(d)
at least two Commissioners with experience and knowledge of trade

unions and employee relations.’.

Keith Vaz

Ms Diane Abbott

Jeremy Corbyn

Roger Berry

Harry Cohen

Not called  10

Page  60,  line  33  [Schedule  1],  at end insert—

  ‘(3A)
The Secretary of State shall ensure that not less than one quarter of

Commissioners appointed under paragraph 1(1) are from a black or other

ethnic minority background.’.

Roger Berry

Keith Vaz

Not called  18

Page  60,  line  33  [Schedule  1],  at end insert—

  ‘(3A)
The Secretary of State shall ensure that—

(a)
not less than one half of Commissioners appointed under paragraph

1(1) are women, and

(b)
not less than one quarter of Commissioners appointed under paragraph

1(1) are from a black or other ethnic minority background.’.

Report Stage Proceedings: 16th January 2006
234

Equality Bill–[ [], continued

Harry Cohen

Not called  25

Page  60,  line  33  [Schedule  1],  at end insert—

‘(d)
a Commissioner appointed under paragraph 1(1), with the consent of

the London Assembly, who knows about conditions in London.’.

Keith Vaz

Ms Diane Abbott

Jeremy Corbyn

Roger Berry

Harry Cohen

Not called  1

Page  64,  line  21  [Schedule  1],  after ‘Committee’, insert ‘or to the Race

Committee’.

Keith Vaz

Ms Diane Abbott

Jeremy Corbyn

Roger Berry

Harry Cohen

Not called  2

Page  64,  line  22  [Schedule  1],  after ‘52’, insert ‘or paragraph 68’.

Keith Vaz

Ms Diane Abbott

Jeremy Corbyn

Roger Berry

Harry Cohen

Not called  3

Page  64,  line  41  [Schedule  1],  after ‘Committee’, insert ‘or to the Race

Committee’.

Keith Vaz

Ms Diane Abbott

Jeremy Corbyn

Roger Berry

Harry Cohen

Not called  4

Page  64,  line  41  [Schedule  1],  after ‘52’, insert ‘or paragraph 68’.

Keith Vaz

Ms Diane Abbott

Jeremy Corbyn

Roger Berry

Harry Cohen

Not called  5

Page  65,  line  24  [Schedule  1],  after ‘Committee’, insert ‘or to the Race

Committee’.

Report Stage Proceedings: 16th January 2006
235

Equality Bill–[ [], continued

Keith Vaz

Ms Diane Abbott

Jeremy Corbyn

Roger Berry

Harry Cohen

Not called  6

Page  65,  line  25  [Schedule  1],  after ‘52’, insert ‘or paragraph 68’.

Keith Vaz

Ms Diane Abbott

Jeremy Corbyn

Roger Berry

Harry Cohen

Not called  7

Page  65,  line  44  [Schedule  1],  after ‘Committee’, insert ‘or to the Race

Committee’.

Keith Vaz

Ms Diane Abbott

Jeremy Corbyn

Roger Berry

Harry Cohen

Not called  8

Page  65,  line  44  [Schedule  1],  after ‘52’, insert- ‘or paragraph 68’.

Harry Cohen

Not called  26

Page  66,  line  2  [Schedule  1],  at end insert

‘London Committee

31A(1)
The Commission shall establish a decision-making committee to be known as

the London Committee.

      (2)
The Commission shall ensure that the London Committee is established before

any of sections 8 to 12 comes into force (to any extent).

31B
The Commission shall appoint as the Chairman of the London Committee a

Commissioner appointed for the purpose of satisfying paragraph 2(3)(d).

31C
The Commission shall appoint each member of the London Committee for a

period of not less than two years or more than 5 years, subject to the

possibilities of—

(a)
reappointment, and

(b)
dismissal in accordance with the terms of appointment.

31D
The London Committee shall advise the Commission about the exercise of the

Commission’s functions in so far as they affect London.

31E
Before exercising a function in a manner which in the opinion of the

Commission is likely to affect persons in London, the Commission shall

consult the London Committee.

31F(1)
The power under section 13—

(a)
shall be treated by virtue of this paragraph as having been delegated

by the Commission to the London Committee in so far as its exercise,

in the opinion of the Commission, affects London, and

Report Stage Proceedings: 16th January 2006
236

Equality Bill–[ [], continued

(b)
to that extent shall not be exercisable by the Commission.

      (2)
Sub-paragraph (1) shall not apply to the power under section 13 in so far as it

is treated as delegated to the Disability Committee in accordance with

paragraph 52.

      (3)
Sub-paragraph (1) shall not prevent the Commission from making

arrangements under section 13(1)(d) or (e) for the provision of advice or

guidance to persons anywhere in Great Britain.

31G
In allocating its resources the Commission shall ensure that the London

Committee receives a share sufficient to enable it to exercise its functions.

31H
The London Committee shall have its offices in London.’.

Mr Patrick McLoughlin

Mr Dominic Grieve

Mrs Eleanor Laing

Not called  42

Page  68,  line  4  [Schedule  1],  at end insert—

‘(c)
the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of the House of

Commons.’.

Keith Vaz

Mr Neil Gerrard

Ms Diane Abbott

Jeremy Corbyn

Roger Berry

Harry Cohen

Not called  9

Page  72,  line  16  [Schedule  1],  at end add—

‘Part 6

Race Committee

Establishment

65  (1)
The Commission shall establish a decision making committee to be known as

the Race Committee.

      (2)
The Commission shall ensure that the Race Committee is established before

either section 8 or section 10, insofar as they relate to matters of race, comes

into force (to any extent).

Membership

66
The Commission shall ensure that—

(a)
there are no fewer than seven or more than nine members of the Race

Committee,

(b)
at least one half of the members of the Race Committee are persons

from a black or other ethnic minority background, and

Report Stage Proceedings: 16th January 2006
237

Equality Bill–[ [], continued

(c)
the Chairperson is a person from a black or other ethnic minority

background.

67
The appointment of each member of the Race Committee shall be for a period

of not less than two years or more than five years, subject to the possibilities

of—

(a)
reappointment, and

(b)
dismissal in accordance with the terms of appointment.

Functions

68  (1)
The Commission shall by virtue of this paragraph be treated as having

delegated to the Race Committee—

(a)
the Commission’s duty under section 8 insofar as it relates to matters

of race and may be fulfilled by the exercise of the powers conferred by

or referred to in—

(i)
section 11,

(ii)
section 13(1)(a), (c) or (d) (or paragraph (e) or (f) insofar as it

relates to paragraph (a), (c) or (d)),

(iii)
section 14,

(iv)
section 15,

(v)
section 19, insofar as it relates to matters of race,

(vi)
section 27,

(vii)
section 29, or

(viii)
section 31,

(b)
the Commission’s duty under section 10 insofar as it relates to matters

of race and may be fulfilled by the exercise of those powers, and

(c)
those powers insofar as they are or may be exercised for the purpose

of matters concerning race.

      (2)
Delegation under this paragraph shall not prevent the exercise by the

Commission of a power, or the fulfilment by the Commission of a duty, by

action which relates to any one or more than one of the causes of

discrimination or prejudice referred to in section 10.

      (3)
Before exercising a power to which paragraph 21(2) or 22(3) applies the Race

Committee shall consult the Scotland Committee.

      (4)
Before exercising a power to which paragraph 29(2) or 30(3) applies the Race

Committee shall consult the Wales Committee.

69
Before exercising a power or fulfilling a duty in relation to matters of race, the

Commission shall consult the Race Committee.

70
The Race Committee shall advise the Commission about the exercise of the

Commission’s functions insofar as they relate to matters of race.

Resources

71
In allocating its resources the Commission shall ensure that the Race

Committee receives a share sufficient to enable it to exercise its functions.

Report

72  (1)
The Race Committee shall for each financial year of the Commission submit

to the Commission a report on the Committee’s activities in that year.

      (2)
The Commission shall incorporate each report of the Race Committee under

sub-paragraph (1) into the relevant annual report of the Commission.

Report Stage Proceedings: 16th January 2006
238

Equality Bill–[ [], continued

Five Year Review

73
The Commission shall arrange for a review of the activities of the Race

Committee to be conducted as soon as is reasonably practicable after the end

of the period of five years beginning with the date of the commencement for

all purposes of sections 8 and 10 insofar as they relate to matters of race.

74
The following may not participate in the review (although those conducting the

review may seek views from any of the following)—

(a)
a Commissioner or former Commissioner,

(b)
staff or former staff of the Commission,

(c)
a person who is or has been an Investigating Commissioner, and

(d)
a person who is or has been a member of a committee established by

the Commission.

75
The Commission shall ensure—

(a)
that those conducting the review consult persons whom they think

likely to have an interest,

(b)
that those conducting the review submit a report to the Commission,

and

(c)
that the report is published.

76
The Race Committee may not be dissolved under paragraph 14(c).

Definition

77
In this Schedule “race” includes colour, nationality, ethnic origin and national

origin.’.

Sandra Gidley

Dr Evan Harris

Not selected  41

Title,  line  4,  leave out ‘or belief’ and insert ‘belief or age’.

Bill read the third time and passed, with Amendments.