---

Equality Bill [HL]

My Lords, this is, again, most welcome. It was one of the matters about which the EOC was particularly concerned. I do not have the same reservations about the notion of sexual harassment that I do about religious harassment, nor, for that matter, do I have the same reservations about the notion of racial harassment. If only it were covered, I would not have the same reservation about homophobic harassment, because the other three examples attack people because of their common humanity. In the field of sex discrimination, it is particularly important to capture harassment as well as discrimination. It is therefore very good news that this is to be included in Part 3. I only wish it were possible to give effect to the gender directive at the same time, purely because I would like to see as much of the law as possible stated on the face of the Bill rather than being dealt with later. Even if that is not possible, it will be done soon anyway, and I commend the Government for accepting the EOC’s recommendations.