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Equality Bill [HL]

My Lords, it seems to me that the amendment would be very wide in its effect. It includes the words,"““exclude a person from any organisation or employment on the grounds of his belief . . . or lack of belief””." It appears that that means that it would be possible to exclude a teacher for not having a belief when the belief might have absolutely nothing to do with his teaching. For example, his function might not be to teach religious education but may be unconnected with religion. The wording of the amendment appears to go very wide, and it means that any organisation can decide that its ethos is religious and that it will not employ certain people. I consider that to be unacceptable.