---

Scotland Act 1998 (Modifications of Schedule 5) Order 2006

My Lords, having taken part in proceedings on the Equality Bill, which was, of course, a United Kingdom Bill, I welcome the fact that these will be United Kingdom matters and that Scotland will be embraced as part of the whole on equality matters. I am sure that that is right. There is no question that this is the correct way to handle this; it should become a reserved matter under the Scotland Act which, as I understand it, is what the order does. I welcome the order, and the fact that the equality commission should be a reserved matter under the Scotland Act.