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Equality Bill [HL]

I am grateful to the noble Lord, particularly for not moving the amendments with which I would find more difficulty. I am sympathetic to the intention behind the amendments that the noble Lord has specifically moved—that is, regarding the Secretary of State’s power to direct the   commission to prepare the code; removing the requirement for the EOC or the commission to comply with a direction from the Secretary of State to prepare a code on the gender duty; and removing the Secretary of State’s role to make an order bringing the code into effect. I am quite prepared to take those away and look at them. I hope that, on that basis, the noble Lord will feel able to withdraw his amendment.