345

House of Commons

Thursday 2 July 2009

Public Bill Committee

New Amendments handed in are marked thus

Amendments which will comply with the required notice period at their next appearance

Equality Bill

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Note

The Amendments have been arranged according to the Order of the Committee

[2 June 2009].

The Solicitor General

286

Clause  157,  page  116,  line  33,  leave out ‘Great Britain’ and insert ‘England and

Wales’.

Member’s explanatory statement

The effect of this amendment is to restrict the application of clause 157 to England and Wales.

The Solicitor General

287

Clause  160,  page  118,  line  32,  after ‘authority’ insert ‘in England and Wales’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment is consequent on amendment 288.

The Solicitor General

288

Clause  160,  page  118,  line  35,  leave out ‘In this subsection’ and insert—

‘(3A)

A licensing authority in Scotland may include a vehicle on a list maintained under

this section only if it is being used, or is to be used, by the holder of a special

licence under that licence.

(3B)	In subsections (3) and (3A)’.

Member’s explanatory statement

The effect of this amendment is to restrict the application of clauses 158 to 160, as regards

Public Bill Committee: 2 July 2009

346

Equality Bill, continued

Scotland, to vehicles used under special licences within the meaning of section 12 of the Transport

Act 1985: that is, “taxibuses” and “PHV-buses”.

The Solicitor General

289

Clause  165,  page  121,  line  19,  after ‘authority’ insert ‘in England and Wales’.

Member’s explanatory statement

The purpose of this amendment, together with amendments 290 and 291, is to make separate

provision regarding appeals in Scotland.

The Solicitor General

290

Clause  165,  page  121,  line  21,  leave out ‘or, in Scotland, the sheriff’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 289.

The Solicitor General

291

Clause  165,  page  121,  line  22,  at end insert—

‘(1A)

A person who is aggrieved by the refusal of a licensing authority in Scotland to

issue an exemption certificate under section 159 may appeal to the sheriff before

the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the date of the refusal.’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 289.

The Solicitor General

292

Clause  165,  page  121,  line  23,  after ‘subsection (1)’ insert ‘or (1A)’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment is consequent on amendment 291.

The Solicitor General

293

Clause  166,  page  122,  line  16,  leave out ‘except in sections 161 to 164’ and insert

‘in sections 155 and 158 to 160’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment prevents clauses 154 and 156 from applying as regards taxis in Scotland; in

relation to clause 157, the amendment is consequent on amendment 286.

The Solicitor General

87

Clause  175,  page  127,  line  38,  leave out ‘194(3)(a)’ and insert ‘194(4)(a)’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would correct a cross-reference. The correct reference is to the power of the

Public Bill Committee: 2 July 2009

347

Equality Bill, continued

Secretary of State to make different provision in regulations for different purposes. The incorrect

reference relates to sex discrimination in schools.

The Solicitor General

88

Schedule  22,  page  233,  line  42,  at end insert—

‘( )	a college of further education within the meaning of section 36 of the

Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992;

( )	a university in Scotland;’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would ensure that the exception to Part 5 in paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 22 will

apply to institutions providing further and higher education in Scotland and that an order may be

made under paragraph 3(5) in respect of such institutions.

Dr Evan Harris

Lynne Featherstone

255

Schedule  22,  page  234,  line  4,  leave out sub-sub-paragraphs (a) and (b).

Dr Evan Harris

Lynne Featherstone

256

Schedule  22,  page  234,  line  10,  at end insert ‘except in relation to academy

schools’.

Dr Evan Harris

Lynne Featherstone

252

Clause  186,  page  133,  line  24,  leave out subsections (5) and (6).

Member’s explanatory statement

An amendment to protect an individual from discrimination from a charity because of their

atheism.

Dr Evan Harris

Lynne Featherstone

308

Clause  187,  page  134,  leave out line 6.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment is to probe the reason for subsection (2), particularly in what way it relates to

subsection (4) of Clause 186.

Public Bill Committee: 2 July 2009

348

Equality Bill, continued

Dr Evan Harris

Lynne Featherstone

309

Clause  188,  page  134,  line  24,  at end insert—

‘(1A)

For the avoidance of doubt, subsection (1) allows a person to provide gender-

affected activities separately, but doe not allow such activities to be provided to

people of one gender but not to the other, unless it is unreasonable or

disporportionate to seek to provide them for both.’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment seeks to prevent, for example, the instance where there is a sporting competition

that is open to men, but there is no equivalent competition open to women.

Lynne Featherstone

Dr Evan Harris

122

Clause  188,  page  134,  line  26,  leave out ‘reassignment’ and insert ‘identity’.

Dr Evan Harris

Lynne Featherstone

304

Clause  188,  page  135,  line  6,  at end insert—

‘(7)	Bodies responsible for the organisation of international and national-level sports

competitions shall not discriminate on the grounds of gender in the provision of

competition and team membership unless they are able to demonstrate that it is a

proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.’.

Member’s explanatory statement

Sporting bodies have to demonstrate that discrimination on the grounds of gender, in the provision

of competition and team membership, is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

John Mason

58

Schedule  23,  page  235,  line  20,  leave out sub-paragraph (2).

Member’s explanatory statement

Allows commercial religious bodies to benefit from exceptions covering religion and sexual

orientation, so long as they also fit within paragraph 2(1).

Dr Evan Harris

Lynne Featherstone

295

Schedule  23,  page  235,  line  20,  leave out ‘sole or main’.

Member’s explanatory statement

Amendment to probe the question of whether organisations which have a commercial sideline are

free to discriminate in that commercial activity.

Public Bill Committee: 2 July 2009

349

Equality Bill, continued

Dr Evan Harris

Lynne Featherstone

296

Schedule  23,  page  236,  line  5,  at end insert— ‘and,

(c)	where the service provided is not a commercial activity.’.

Member’s explanatory statement

Amendment to probe the question of whether organisations that have a commercial sideline are

free to discriminate in that activity.

John Mason

59

Schedule  23,  page  236,  line  18,  leave out sub-paragraph (10).

Member’s explanatory statement

Religious groups that provide services on behalf of public authorities (e.g. Roman Catholic

adoption agencies) are allowed to discriminate on grounds of religion but not sexual orientation,

the amendment would allow religious groups to discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation

where they can show their faith requires it.

Dr Evan Harris

Lynne Featherstone

305

Schedule  23,  page  236,  line  18,  leave out from ‘anything’ to end.

Member’s explanatory statement

This is to prevent organisations discriminating on the grounds of sexual orientation when

performing a public function in the provision of premises or in Associations.

Dr Evan Harris

Lynne Featherstone

251

Schedule  23,  page  236,  line  19,  after ‘orientation’, insert ‘or religion or belief’.

Dr Evan Harris

Lynne Featherstone

306

Schedule  23,  page  237,  line  8,  at end insert—

‘(4)	Sub-paragraph (1), insofar as it relates to gender reassignment discrimination,

does not apply in the case of a person who holds a gender recognition certificate’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This is to prevent gender reassignment discrimination against a person with a gender recognition

certificate.

Mr Mark Harper

John Penrose

Mr John Baron

30

Clause  190,  page  135,  line  23,  at end insert—

‘(5)	An order under subsection (1) may only be made if the Minister can demonstrate

that persons of a specified age are being discriminated against for no legitimate

reason.’.

Public Bill Committee: 2 July 2009

350

Equality Bill, continued

Lynne Featherstone

Dr Evan Harris

206

Clause  190,  page  135,  line  23,  at end add—

‘(5)	All orders under this section shall be made within six months of Royal Assent.’.

Member’s explanatory statement

The purpose of this amendment would be to limit the time available to Ministers of the Crown to

make orders detailing the exemptions to the general principle of non-discrimination on the basis

of age in the provision of goods, facilities and services.

Mr Mark Harper

John Penrose

Mr John Baron

John Mason

25

Page  135,  line  9,  leave out Clause 190.

Mr Mark Harper

John Penrose

Mr John Baron

31

Clause  191,  page  136,  line  4,  leave out ‘thinks’ and insert ‘can demonstrate’.

Mr Mark Harper

John Penrose

Mr John Baron

32

Clause  191,  page  136,  line  9,  leave out ‘thinks’ and insert ‘can demonstrate’.

Mr Mark Harper

John Penrose

Mr John Baron

33

Clause  191,  page  136,  line  16,  leave out ‘thinks’ and insert ‘can demonstrate’.

Mr Mark Harper

John Penrose

Mr John Baron

34

Clause  191,  page  136,  line  23,  leave out ‘thinks’ and insert ‘can demonstrate’.

Mr Mark Harper

John Penrose

Mr John Baron

26

Page  136,  line  1,  leave out Clause 191.

Public Bill Committee: 2 July 2009

351

Equality Bill, continued

The Solicitor General

294

Clause  195,  page  138,  line  34,  at end insert—

‘( )	an order under section [Combined discrimination: dual

characteristics](8) (combined discrimination: circumstances where

proceedings may not be brought);’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would provide for an order made under the new clause that would be inserted by

new Clause 26 to be subject to the affirmative procedure in Parliament.

Dr Evan Harris

Lynne Featherstone

299

Clause  195,  page  138,  line  39,  at end insert—

‘(ee)

regulations under Clause 145 (power to specify public authorities) if they

do anything other than add bodies to the list under Schedule 19’.

Member’s explanatory statement

An affirmative resolution of both Houses is required if the list of public authorities is narrowed.

Dr Evan Harris

Lynne Featherstone

234

Clause  195,  page  138,  line  44,  at end insert—

‘(i)	regulations under section 21 (regulations).’.

Member’s explanatory statement

An amendment to require regulations in relation to reasonable adjustment to be made under the

affirmative procedure.

Dr Evan Harris

Lynne Featherstone

257

Schedule  27,  page  247,  line  18,  at end insert—

	‘School Standards and	Section 58(6) and (7).
	Framework Act 1998	Section 60(4) and (5).’.

Member’s explanatory statement

These sections of the School Standards and Frameworks Act relate to paragraph 4 of Schedule 22.

The Solicitor General

89

Clause  199,  page  141,  line  43,  after ‘“Employer”,’, insert ‘“deferred member”,’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See explanatory statement for amendment 65.

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Revised 2 July 2009