§ Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What are the benefits for the people of Great Britain of not having a Single Equality Act. [HL3363]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): Legislation to ensure greater equality of opportunity is a priority for this Government, as is demonstrated by the improvements we have already made and the range of actions we are taking.
§ Since 1997 the Government have introduced new legislation outlawing discrimination in employment on grounds of sexual orientation, religion and belief (and in due course age); strengthening existing legislation on disability discrimination; strengthening the Race Relations Act including introducing a duty on public bodies to promote race equality and publication of a draft Disability Discrimination Bill, which will further extend rights and opportunities for disabled people. We are also continuing to improve the workings of the Equal Pay Act and the Sex Discrimination Act, for example, through the introduction of the equal pay questionnaire and 35WA through action to streamline the complex rules of procedure relating to equal value tribunal cases. Further major steps are in progress or planned.
§ The Government do not however believe that a complete legislative overhaul is the right way forward at this time.
§ The Government's priority now is legislation to establish the Commission for Equality and Human Rights as detailed in the White Paper Fairness for All which was published on 12 May. We expect that the new commission will play a full and active part in the debate on the future development of equality legislation as part of its proposed power to keep such legislation under review.