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Equality Bill

My Lords, I very much welcome the comments of the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Chichester and thank him for welcoming these amendments. I felt, however, that he was beginning to set out his position in any negotiations on the regulations. Perhaps we can leave those comments for a different time. All we have ever sought to do through the amendment is to allow people of faith who want to hold civil partnerships in their religious buildings to do so. It is as simple as that, and no more difficult. We have not tried to go through the back door to allow a parish church to sue the General Synod. We had a very simple objective, which I hope we will have achieved. When I say "we", it is a real case of the Back-Benchers talking to the Front-Benchers. I ask all three parties and the usual channels to think more carefully about what those of us on the Back Benches have to say and to make it a little easier for us to intervene in our debates, because we, too, have a contribution to make to this House and it often feels as though we are not heard. I suspect that this debate will move on to a debate on the regulations, which I await with interest. Amendment 4 agreed. Amendment 5 agreed. Clause 216 : Commencement Clause 216 : Commencement Amendment 6 agreed. Schedule 3 : Services and public functions: exceptions Schedule 3 : Services and public functions: exceptions Amendment 7 not moved. Schedule 15 : Associations: reasonable adjustments Amendment 8 Schedule 15 : Associations: reasonable adjustments Amendment 8 Moved by