To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 16 February 2006, Official Report, column 2211W, on advanced corporation tax relief, what the monetary value is of the additional sum that has been provided...

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 16 February 2006, Official Report, column 2211W, on advanced corporation tax relief, what the monetary value is of the additional sum that has been provided...

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent annual report of each individual administering authority of the Local Government Pension Scheme that is held by his Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent annual report of each individual administering authority of the Local Government Pension Scheme that is held by his Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether an assessment has been made of the effect of the reduction of gilt yields resulting from quantitative easing on the levels of Local Government Pension Scheme pension deficits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether an assessment has been made of the effect of the reduction of gilt yields resulting from quantitative easing on the levels of Local Government Pension Scheme pension deficits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his Department's latest estimate is of the average level of employer contribution as a percentage of the employee's salary made by each administering local authority within the Local Government Pension Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his Department's latest estimate is of the average level of employer contribution as a percentage of the employee's salary made by each administering local authority within the Local Government Pension Scheme.

DWP Autumn Performance Report 2009. 60p.

DWP Autumn Performance Report 2009. 60p.

Equality Bill. Lords second reading debate. Agreed to on question and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

Equality Bill. Lords second reading debate. Agreed to on question and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

My Lords, what a pleasure it is to stand up today and welcome this Bill to your Lordships’ House. On a personal level, it is a privilege to be leading these Benches, supported on the Front Bench by the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Bolton, and the noble Lord, Lord...

My Lords, what a pleasure it is to stand up today and welcome this Bill to your Lordships’ House. On a personal level, it is a privilege to be leading these Benches, supported on the Front Bench by the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Bolton, and the noble Lord, Lord...

Moved By That the Bill be read a second time.

Moved By That the Bill be read a second time.

My Lords, I am deeply proud and privileged to introduce the Equality Bill to this House. A standard accusation against Governments who have been in office for some time, of whatever political persuasion, is that they have run out of ideas, run out of proposals and run out of steam....

My Lords, I am deeply proud and privileged to introduce the Equality Bill to this House. A standard accusation against Governments who have been in office for some time, of whatever political persuasion, is that they have run out of ideas, run out of proposals and run out of steam....

My Lords, let me be clear: it is a fundamental principle of the Christian religion that all human beings are of equal and infinite worth in the sight of God. This Bill seeks to address the many occasions when that fundamental principle is violated. That is an objective which I...

My Lords, let me be clear: it is a fundamental principle of the Christian religion that all human beings are of equal and infinite worth in the sight of God. This Bill seeks to address the many occasions when that fundamental principle is violated. That is an objective which I...

My Lords, I welcome and support the introduction of this Bill, which not only harmonises all the current pieces of legislation but also provides new principles further to progress equality across all strands, as disadvantage and inequalities still exist. I congratulate all those who have had the responsibility for pulling...

My Lords, I welcome and support the introduction of this Bill, which not only harmonises all the current pieces of legislation but also provides new principles further to progress equality across all strands, as disadvantage and inequalities still exist. I congratulate all those who have had the responsibility for pulling...

My Lords, I apologise. I mistook the timing and I am sorry. I declare in interest as a commissioner on the Equality and Human Rights Commission. This Bill is extremely important. It merits the all-party support which has been demonstrated very clearly. It is part of a journey towards ensuring...

My Lords, I apologise. I mistook the timing and I am sorry. I declare in interest as a commissioner on the Equality and Human Rights Commission. This Bill is extremely important. It merits the all-party support which has been demonstrated very clearly. It is part of a journey towards ensuring...

I think that I invented the Civil Partnership Bill in my own Bill. As I understand it, the noble Lord is not saying that we should call it marriage; he is saying something less than that. Is that right?

I think that I invented the Civil Partnership Bill in my own Bill. As I understand it, the noble Lord is not saying that we should call it marriage; he is saying something less than that. Is that right?

My Lords, it is a privilege to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Campbell of Surbiton. I welcome this Bill, which presents us with the opportunity to tidy up and consolidate and put equality legislation on a safer footing. The past 11 years that I have spent in your Lordships' House...

My Lords, it is a privilege to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Campbell of Surbiton. I welcome this Bill, which presents us with the opportunity to tidy up and consolidate and put equality legislation on a safer footing. The past 11 years that I have spent in your Lordships' House...

My Lords, the need for stronger, clearer, more comprehensive and more easily enforceable equality legislation is pressing. Without it, we cannot address the equality gaps that hold so many people back. I warmly welcome this Bill. I think it could genuinely transform opportunities over time. I look forward to working...

My Lords, the need for stronger, clearer, more comprehensive and more easily enforceable equality legislation is pressing. Without it, we cannot address the equality gaps that hold so many people back. I warmly welcome this Bill. I think it could genuinely transform opportunities over time. I look forward to working...

I do not mind what we call it. I have heard marriage described in many ways in itself. The second issue that I wanted to raise relates to one class of people who are not protected from employment discrimination because of their sexuality. I also welcome the refinement of the...

I do not mind what we call it. I have heard marriage described in many ways in itself. The second issue that I wanted to raise relates to one class of people who are not protected from employment discrimination because of their sexuality. I also welcome the refinement of the...

There are many issues in this Bill, but I intend to concentrate on two: religious freedom and the process of scrutiny of the Bill. The noble Lord, Lord Lester, stated that faith is not an immutable characteristic. This is untrue, particularly in my case. I know that I could never...

There are many issues in this Bill, but I intend to concentrate on two: religious freedom and the process of scrutiny of the Bill. The noble Lord, Lord Lester, stated that faith is not an immutable characteristic. This is untrue, particularly in my case. I know that I could never...

I must say to the noble Baroness the Leader of the House that I have nothing but admiration for her. The way it was reported to me was: not to put down amendments which might be not tangential to the Bill. Perhaps there has been a misunderstanding. I shall go...

I must say to the noble Baroness the Leader of the House that I have nothing but admiration for her. The way it was reported to me was: not to put down amendments which might be not tangential to the Bill. Perhaps there has been a misunderstanding. I shall go...