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Equality Bill

My Lords, I, too, support these amendments, not just for all the reasons of policy and practice that have been so ably deployed on all sides of the Committee, but for reasons of principle. Paragraphs 8 and 9 of Schedule 9 offend the very basic principle of equality law and of the Bill, which is that people should be judged by reference to their individual characteristics, abilities, conduct and potential, not by reference to something over which they have no control and which has no necessary relevance to their ability to perform the job or other function. That is what is so objectionable about the present law. These provisions will have the inevitable consequence of causing unfairness to tens of thousands of employees who have worked to very high standards and are being dismissed for a reason over which they have no control. I recognise the practical difficulties to which the noble Baroness, Lady Morris, referred. I hope that the Minister in her reply will tell the Committee that a sunset clause will be added to paragraph 8 whereby experienced and competent employees are no longer able to be consigned by their employers to a sunset home.