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Equality Bill [HL]

My Lords, I shall speak to Amendment No. 29, which is in my name, and Amendments Nos. 26 and 107. In these early stages of the Bill we have made tremendous progress with the proposals we have put forward on behalf of disabled people. The Government have taken enormous trouble and care to understand the problems of disabled people. We have a fine Bill now, made better by these amendments. I am glad that the Minister—my noble friend Lady Ashton—and the Lord Chancellor have taken on board so many of our suggestions. Perhaps I may also say a word about the briefings that we have received. Caroline Ellis of the Disability Rights Commission has briefed all members of the disability lobby—which has made a great deal of work for my noble friend Lady Ashton and my noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor—and here are the results: Members on all sides of the House advocate changes and improvements. We are grateful to Ministers and for the briefings. But without an explicit reference to disabled people as key stakeholders in the five-year review of the Disability Committee’s future, there is a possibility—I put it no higher than that—that the views of disabled people will be neglected and ignored. This would be highly dangerous and very damaging and would follow the experience of the past, where they are pushed aside without their specific concerns being considered. We heard a great deal a moment ago from my noble friend about mental health sufferers. They have been mentioned extensively but I feel that unless they are referred to specifically in the Bill they, of all people, will be neglected because mental health still has a stigma throughout Britain. My noble friend referred to the Disability Right Commission’s mental health action group, which has played a very active and constructive role, but, despite its efforts and the efforts of many people in Parliament and outside, mental health sufferers are still regarded as the lepers of disability; they are still regarded with scorn, contempt and division in many quarters. People who are mentally ill should have an important place in the Bill. I hope the Government will be able to accept our suggestions. Perhaps I may say a brief word about the Transitional Commissioner’s term of office, which may be ended before it is necessary. There is no chance of transferring the knowledge and expertise of the Disability Rights Commission if this term of office is brought to an end too quickly. It needs time, it needs effort and it needs consideration. I hope my noble friend will be able to say, ““Okay, on this occasion, too, we will meet what has been suggested, especially in view of the heavy workload of the DRC””. You cannot transmit that overnight, so please extend the life of the Transitional Commissioner, if you can. I beg to move.