To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the potential (a) implications for her policies of the effectiveness of the free period products scheme in Scotland and (b) merits of implementing a similar scheme in England.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the potential (a) implications for her policies of the effectiveness of the free period products scheme in Scotland and (b) merits of implementing a similar scheme in England.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the cost was to the public purse of (a) polling and (b) focus groups on public attitudes towards the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the cost was to the public purse of (a) polling and (b) focus groups on public attitudes towards the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the recommendations made by the Ending Conversion Practices Expert Advisory Group in Scotland on 4 October 2022.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the recommendations made by the Ending Conversion Practices Expert Advisory Group in Scotland on 4 October 2022.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of implementing the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group to the Scottish Government on Ending Conversion Practices in England.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of implementing the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group to the Scottish Government on Ending Conversion Practices in England.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Equality Bill. Lords report stage. Bill, as amended, ordered to be printed (HL BIll 39).

Equality Bill. Lords report stage. Bill, as amended, ordered to be printed (HL BIll 39).

28: After Schedule 7, insert the following new Schedule— "SCHEDULE Work: seafarers Application of Part 5 1 (1) Part 5 of this Act applies to a seafarer who works wholly or partly within Great Britain (including United Kingdom waters adjacent to Great Britain) if— (a) the seafarer is on a...

28: After Schedule 7, insert the following new Schedule— "SCHEDULE Work: seafarers Application of Part 5 1 (1) Part 5 of this Act applies to a seafarer who works wholly or partly within Great Britain (including United Kingdom waters adjacent to Great Britain) if— (a) the seafarer is on a...

My Lords, discrimination against foreign national seafarers is permitted under the Race Relations Act 1976—I think in Sections 8 and 9. Seafarers have to reside and be recruited abroad for the current exemption to apply. They are recruited abroad on local rates of pay to work on UK-registered vessels. Seafarers...

My Lords, discrimination against foreign national seafarers is permitted under the Race Relations Act 1976—I think in Sections 8 and 9. Seafarers have to reside and be recruited abroad for the current exemption to apply. They are recruited abroad on local rates of pay to work on UK-registered vessels. Seafarers...

My Lords, having heard the response of the noble Baroness the Leader of the House and the indication from the Conservative Front Bench that they would be minded to oppose, I do not want, in the interests of making progress, to cause a Division on this matter in order to...

My Lords, having heard the response of the noble Baroness the Leader of the House and the indication from the Conservative Front Bench that they would be minded to oppose, I do not want, in the interests of making progress, to cause a Division on this matter in order to...

The noble Lord has expressed the position of the UK Chamber of Shipping, but has he also had conferences or discussions with the trade unions concerned?

The noble Lord has expressed the position of the UK Chamber of Shipping, but has he also had conferences or discussions with the trade unions concerned?

Unfortunately not, my Lords. I would have liked to have had the opportunity, but the amendment arose at short notice, so I am not as well briefed as I would like to have been. Because any such requirement is not enforceable against non-UK ships, the amendment would have the explicit...

Unfortunately not, my Lords. I would have liked to have had the opportunity, but the amendment arose at short notice, so I am not as well briefed as I would like to have been. Because any such requirement is not enforceable against non-UK ships, the amendment would have the explicit...

My Lords, many years ago I had the privilege of dealing with aviation and shipping. I welcome the stance taken by my noble friend Lord Rosser today. We have many interests in common. My noble friend may well succeed me as president of the British Airline Pilots Association, a post...

My Lords, many years ago I had the privilege of dealing with aviation and shipping. I welcome the stance taken by my noble friend Lord Rosser today. We have many interests in common. My noble friend may well succeed me as president of the British Airline Pilots Association, a post...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Rosser, for explaining the purpose of his important amendment. However, I thought that he would propose his new schedule and other amendments to primary legislation merely as a probing amendment. I thought that the noble Lord was too experienced to...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Rosser, for explaining the purpose of his important amendment. However, I thought that he would propose his new schedule and other amendments to primary legislation merely as a probing amendment. I thought that the noble Lord was too experienced to...

My Lords, the Government would be unwise to accept these amendments. After all, this Government brought in the tonnage tax in 2000, thanks to the former Deputy Prime Minister, since when the British-flagged fleet has increased by a factor of six, bringing substantial amounts to the Treasury. Indeed, in the...

My Lords, the Government would be unwise to accept these amendments. After all, this Government brought in the tonnage tax in 2000, thanks to the former Deputy Prime Minister, since when the British-flagged fleet has increased by a factor of six, bringing substantial amounts to the Treasury. Indeed, in the...

Does the noble Lord agree with my assertion that, whatever may be included—

Does the noble Lord agree with my assertion that, whatever may be included—

My Lords, I accept what the noble Lord says and I will look into this again. However, there are still Catholic adoption agencies and they continue to provide an excellent service to those couples who wish to adopt through a faith-based agency. The right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Bradford...

My Lords, I accept what the noble Lord says and I will look into this again. However, there are still Catholic adoption agencies and they continue to provide an excellent service to those couples who wish to adopt through a faith-based agency. The right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Bradford...

My Lords, I thank noble Lords very much for their support—it seemed that I had the support of 95 per cent of the House for what I had to say. I strongly support gay rights—I have said so on numerous occasions—and I am a great supporter of Stonewall. However, I...

My Lords, I thank noble Lords very much for their support—it seemed that I had the support of 95 per cent of the House for what I had to say. I strongly support gay rights—I have said so on numerous occasions—and I am a great supporter of Stonewall. However, I...

22: Schedule 3, page 148, line 15, at end insert— "(3) Sub-paragraph (4) applies to a person (A) who may, in a case that comes within the Marriage Act 1949 (other than the case mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)), solemnise marriages according to a form, rite or ceremony of a body...

22: Schedule 3, page 148, line 15, at end insert— "(3) Sub-paragraph (4) applies to a person (A) who may, in a case that comes within the Marriage Act 1949 (other than the case mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)), solemnise marriages according to a form, rite or ceremony of a body...

My Lords, in Committee, amendments were put forward by the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Winchester and the noble Baroness, Lady Gould of Potternewton, regarding gender reassignment and marriage. These were accepted by the Government, as they made it clear that the Equality Bill would preserve the current position...

My Lords, in Committee, amendments were put forward by the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Winchester and the noble Baroness, Lady Gould of Potternewton, regarding gender reassignment and marriage. These were accepted by the Government, as they made it clear that the Equality Bill would preserve the current position...

We understand from the letter of the Minister that the amendments are further drafting corrections and clarifications. We welcome the changes. Amendment 22 agreed. Amendment 23 Moved by

We understand from the letter of the Minister that the amendments are further drafting corrections and clarifications. We welcome the changes. Amendment 22 agreed. Amendment 23 Moved by