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Public Bill Committee: 11 June 2009                     

112

 

Equality Bill, continued

 
 

John Mason

 

47

 

Schedule  9,  page  182,  line  13,  at end insert—

 

    ‘(2)  

This sub-paragraph applies to—

 

(a)    

a requirement to be of a particular religion or belief;

 

(b)    

a requirement to be of a particular sex;

 

(c)    

a requirement not to be a transsexual person;

 

(d)    

a requirement not be married or a civil partner;

 

(e)    

a requirement not to be married to, or the civil partner of, a person who

 

has a living former spouse or civil partner;

 

(f)    

a requirement relating to circumstances in which a marriage or civil

 

partnership came to an end;

 

(g)    

a requirement related to sexual orientation.’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

Place the exceptions from paragraph 2 of Schedule 9 into paragraph 3, which has a broader

 

framework. This would provide wider protection for the freedom of association of religious bodies.

 

The Solicitor General

 

69

 

Schedule  9,  page  182,  line  26,  leave out ‘52(1)(b) or (c) or (2)(a) or (b)’ and insert

 

‘52(1) or (2)’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would expand the scope of the exception in paragraph 5(1) of Schedule 9

 

(permitting discrimination in relation to work for which having a particular protected

 

characteristic is an occupational requirement) so that it applies to all circumstances in Clause

 

52(1) or (2) giving rise to liability.

 

The Solicitor General

 

70

 

Schedule  9,  page  182,  line  30,  after ‘52’, insert ‘(1) or (2)’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would limit the exception in paragraph 5(2) of Schedule 9 (permitting

 

discrimination in relation to training for work for which having a particular protected

 

characteristic is an occupational requirement) so that it applies to discrimination only and not

 

harassment or victimisation.

 

The Solicitor General

 

71

 

Schedule  9,  page  182,  line  33,  leave out ‘52(1)(b) or (c) or (2)(a) or (b)’ and insert

 

‘52(1) or (2)’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would expand the scope of the exception in paragraph 5(3) of Schedule 9

 

(permitting discrimination in reliance on a statement that a particular protected characteristic is

 

an occupational requirement) so that it applies to all circumstances in Clause 52(1) or (2) giving

 

rise to liability.

 

Mrs Sharon Hodgson

 

184

 

Schedule  9,  page  183,  line  25,  leave out paragraph 8.

 

Mrs Sharon Hodgson

 

185

 

Schedule  9,  page  183,  line  35,  leave out paragraph 9.


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 11 June 2009                     

113

 

Equality Bill, continued

 
 

The Solicitor General

 

72

 

Schedule  9,  page  188,  line  17,  at end insert—

 

‘( )    

section 38(1) and (3);’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would bring Clause 38(1) and (3) within the scope of paragraph 19(1) of

 

Schedule 9. A principal would not then be liable under Clause 38 for discrimination or

 

victimisation relating to the provision of a benefit, facility or service to the public (as in existing

 

law).

 

The Solicitor General

 

73

 

Schedule  9,  page  188,  line  26,  at end insert—

 

‘( )    

in relation to section 38(1) and (3), the other contract workers supplied

 

to the principal;’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would provide that “comparable persons” means other contract workers

 

supplied to a principal, when determining whether provision of a benefit, facility or service by a

 

principal to a contract worker differs in a material respect for the purposes of paragraph 19(3)(a)

 

of Schedule 9.

 

The Solicitor General

 

74

 

Schedule  9,  page  188,  line  32,  at end insert—

 

‘( )    

the terms on which the principal allows B to do the contract work,’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would provide that “B’s terms” means the terms on which the principal allows a

 

contract worker to work, when determining whether the provision of a benefit, facility or service

 

by the principal is regulated by B’s terms for the purposes of paragraph 19(3)(b) of Schedule 9.

 


 

John Mason

 

100

 

Clause  79,  page  59,  line  37,  leave out paragraph (c).

 


 

The Solicitor General

 

75

 

Clause  92,  page  70,  line  6,  after ‘a’, insert ‘relevant’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment and amendments 76 and 77 would make in relation to educational qualifications

 

corrections corresponding to the corrections that amendments 62 and 63 would make in relation

 

to work qualifications.

 

The Solicitor General

 

76

 

Clause  92,  page  70,  line  7,  after ‘a’, insert ‘relevant’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

See the explanatory statement for amendment 75.


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 11 June 2009                     

114

 

Equality Bill, continued

 
 

The Solicitor General

 

77

 

Clause  92,  page  70,  line  7,  at end insert—

 

‘( )    

A reference in section 91(8), (10) or (11) to a qualification is a reference to a

 

relevant qualification.’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

See the explanatory statement for amendment 75.

 


 

The Solicitor General

 

78

 

Clause  95,  page  70,  line  26,  leave out subsection (3).

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment is consequential on amendment 90.

 


 

The Solicitor General

 

79

 

Schedule  15,  page  207,  line  35,  leave out from ‘who’ to end of line 36 and insert

 

‘—

 

(a)    

are, or are seeking to become or might wish to become, members,

 

(b)    

are associates, or

 

(c)    

are, or are likely to become, guests.’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment and amendment 80 would expand the scope of the duty on associations to make

 

reasonable adjustments so that the duty applies in relation to prospective members and guests. The

 

omission of provision to that effect from the Bill on introduction was an oversight.

 

The Solicitor General

 

80

 

Schedule  15,  page  208,  line  1,  leave out from ‘relevant’ to end of line 2 and insert

 

‘matters are—

 

(a)    

access to a benefit, facility or service;

 

(b)    

being admitted to membership or invited as a guest.’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

See explanatory statement for amendment 79.

 


 

Mr Mark Harper

 

John Penrose

 

Mr John Baron

 

16

 

Clause  118,  page  85,  line  28,  leave out paragraph (c).


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 11 June 2009                     

115

 

Equality Bill, continued

 
 

Mr Mark Harper

 

John Penrose

 

Mr John Baron

 

17

 

Clause  118,  page  85,  line  29,  leave out subsection (3) and insert—

 

‘(3)    

In the event that an employment tribunal finds that an employer has contravened

 

a term modified or included by an equality clause, the employer shall be required

 

to undertake an audit, to be known as an equal pay audit, and to make the results

 

of the audit available in a manner prescribed in regulations made by the Secretary

 

of State.’.

 

Mr Mark Harper

 

John Penrose

 

Mr John Baron

 

18

 

Clause  118,  page  86,  line  8,  leave out subsection (7).

 


 

The Solicitor General

 

81

 

Clause  130,  page  95,  line  27,  after ‘offence’, insert ‘under this Act’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would remove an inconsistency between Clause 107(7)(a) and Clause 130(5).

 


 

The Solicitor General

 

82

 

Clause  138,  page  100,  line  16,  after ‘of’, insert ‘or made under’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would expand the scope of Clause 138(1) to render unenforceable a contractual

 

term which purports to exclude or limit a provision made under the Bill in addition to a provision

 

of the Bill itself. The amendment would complement the provisions already in the Bill.


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 11 June 2009                     

116

 

Equality Bill, continued

 
 

The Solicitor General

 

83

 

Clause  138,  page  100,  line  19,  after ‘of’, insert ‘or made under’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would expand the scope of Clause 138(2) to render unenforceable a relevant non-

 

contractual term which purports to exclude or limit a provision made under the Bill in addition to

 

a provision of the Bill itself. The amendment would complement the provisions already in the Bill.

 


 

Mr Mark Harper

 

John Penrose

 

Mr John Baron

 

19

 

Clause  143,  page  105,  line  14,  at beginning insert ‘Subsection (1) will also apply

 

to’.

 

Mr Mark Harper

 

John Penrose

 

Mr John Baron

 

20

 

Clause  143,  page  105,  leave out lines 15 and 16 and insert ‘except in relation to matters

 

of employment’.

 

John Mason

 

49

 

Clause  143,  page  105,  line  32,  at end insert—

 

‘(4A)    

Having due regard to the need to foster good relations between persons who share

 

a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it involves

 

ensuring a proper balance between the rights of persons who share a relevant

 

protected characteristic and the rights of persons who share a different relevant

 

protected characteristic.’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

Prevents public authorities using the public sector equality duty to favour the rights of one group

 

over another.

 

Mr Mark Harper

 

John Penrose

 

Mr John Baron

 

21

 

Clause  143,  page  105,  line  35,  at end insert—

 

‘(5A)    

A public authority must collect and publish data annually showing, in the exercise

 

of its functions, the extent to which it has succeeded in meeting the requirements

 

under subsection (1).’.

 



 
 

Public Bill Committee: 11 June 2009                     

117

 

Equality Bill, continued

 
 

John Mason

 

50

 

Schedule  18,  page  216,  leave out lines 21 to 24.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

The Commons, the Lords, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly are exempt from the

 

public sector equality duty. This amendment would remove those exemptions.

 


 

John Mason

 

51

 

Page  107,  line  6,  leave out Clause 145.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

Removes all ministerial order-making powers related to the public sector equality duty. This would

 

require the Government to use primary legislation instead.

 


 

John Mason

 

52

 

Page  107,  line  29,  leave out Clause 146.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

Removes all ministerial order-making powers related to the public sector equality duty. This would

 

require the Government to use primary legislation instead.

 


 

Mr Mark Harper

 

John Penrose

 

Mr John Baron

 

22

 

Clause  147,  page  108,  line  27,  at end insert—

 

‘(5)    

Before regulations are made under this section, there must be laid before both

 

Houses of Parliament—

 

(a)    

draft regulations, and

 

(b)    

evidence that the regulations will enable the better performance by public

 

authorities of the duty imposed by subsection (1).’.

 

John Mason

 

53

 

Page  108,  line  18,  leave out Clause 147.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

Removes all ministerial order-making powers related to the public sector equality duty. This would

 

require the Government to use primary legislation instead.

 



 
 

Public Bill Committee: 11 June 2009                     

118

 

Equality Bill, continued

 
 

John Mason

 

54

 

Page  109,  line  1,  leave out Clause 148.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

Removes all ministerial order-making powers related to the public sector equality duty. This would

 

require the Government to use primary legislation instead.

 


 

John Mason

 

55

 

Page  110,  line  17,  leave out Clause 149.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

Removes all ministerial order-making powers related to the public sector equality duty. This would

 

require the Government to use primary legislation instead.

 


 

The Solicitor General

 

84

 

Clause  151,  page  111,  line  8,  after ‘person’, insert ‘other than the Assembly

 

Commission’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would provide for the National Assembly for Wales Commission not to be a

 

“relevant Welsh authority”; accordingly, a Minister of the Crown (not the Welsh Ministers) would

 

have power to make an order to add the Commission to Schedule 19 or to impose specific duties

 

on it.

 

The Solicitor General

 

85

 

Clause  151,  page  111,  line  12,  after ‘authority’, insert ‘or the Assembly

 

Commission’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would provide for the National Assembly for Wales Commission not to be a

 

“relevant cross-border authority”; accordingly, a Minister of the Crown (not the Welsh Ministers)

 

would have power to make an order to add the Commission to Schedule 19 or to impose specific

 

duties on it.

 

The Solicitor General

 

86

 

Clause  151,  page  111,  line  14,  at end insert—

 

‘( )    

The Assembly Commission has the same meaning as in the Government of Wales

 

Act 2006.’.

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would define “the Assembly Commission” in amendments 84 and 85 as the

 

National Assembly for Wales Commission or Comisiwn Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru.

 



 
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