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Equality Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 82:"Page 18, line 23, at end insert—" ““(10)   A legislative provision which requires insurance or an indemnity in respect of advice given in connection with a compromise contract or agreement shall not apply to advice provided by the Commission under this section.”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, this amendment stands in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Carter, the noble Baroness, Lady Darcy de Knayth, and myself. It is one of those complicated matters where we mortals tread very gingerly through the lawyers. But I am advised that effectively the purpose of the amendment is to disapply the requirements in the equality enactments and other legislation which require all advisers, including those from the commission, to have professional indemnity insurance when advising on compromise agreements. The amendment would simply remove the requirement that the commission needs indemnity insurance when its staff advise on compromise agreements as part of the legal support provided under Clause 30. The exemption to the amendment would apply, among others, to the relevant provisions on compromise agreements in the Disability Discrimination Act, the Sex Discrimination Act, the Race Relations Act, the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003, the Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulations 2003 and the Employment Rights Act. It also applies to the full range of other employment legislation, existing and forthcoming, since the commission can provide legal support for complainants in respect of the equality enactments and other matters. I am grateful for the assistance of the Government in framing this legislation—I can safely say it would not be happening without their assistance. We should all be glad that we have lost many lines of the original amendment from which this is descended. I beg to move.