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Equality Bill

I thank the Minister for her response and other noble Lords who have spoken. Clearly I am disappointed with the response; I do not share the Minister’s view on this point, and I do not think that the Government’s consultation exercise, as I understand it, explicitly sought views on marital status discrimination, only on the protection of married people. So I am not surprised if not much evidence was forthcoming to suggest that such protection was needed in the Bill. Although I am disappointed and do not accept the Government’s view, I do not want to hold up the Bill’s progress. I therefore beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 11 withdrawn. Amendments 12 to 15 not moved. Clause 8 agreed. Clause 9 : Race Clause 9 : Race Amendment 16 not moved. Clause 9 agreed. Amendments 17 to 19 not moved.