§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he regards the EEC Council directive 76/207 of 9 February 1976, on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion and working conditions, as applying equally to those persons who are homosexual as to those who are heterosexual; and if not, what steps he will take in the Council of Ministers and elsewhere to ensure that this directive does so apply.
§ Mr. MayhewThe Council directive deals with the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions. The scope of the directive does not extend to discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. The problems which may arise there are quite different in character from those with which sex discrimination legislation is designed to deal and it would not be appropriate to seek to extend the scope of the directive.