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Equality Bill [HL]

My Lords, I have now abandoned my notes completely. The noble Lord, Lord Lester, raised issues that are of great concern to us. As the noble Baroness, Lady Greengross, will recognise, we are very concerned to try to find the appropriate case in which to address these questions. However, I say as a non-lawyer myself, that I equally understand her desire to address this matter urgently, particularly for the sake of the frail and vulnerable people in our society. My commitment is twofold. First, the Government are committed to look for a case in which to address the issues, as the noble Lord, Lord Lester, said. Secondly, we want to undertake further work with the noble Baroness, Lady Greengross, between now and Third Reading to see whether there is anything further that we could do. It is important that in addressing this matter we do not open up the situation in terms of definitions, as the noble Lord, Lord Lester, said. However, it is possible for us to look more closely and carefully at whether we might do more to address the immediacy of the problem. Regardless of the fact that it is the final amendment of the day, it is incredibly important. I am grateful to the noble Baroness for staying to raise these issues because they are so important. I give a commitment that we shall look again at the matter before Third Reading to see whether we can do something further.