My Lords, I would like to make it clear that we support these amendments and the changes to the law that they would effect, but I will keep my remarks brief because we have little time in which to finish a large number of groups. This is, however, not the...

My Lords, I would like to make it clear that we support these amendments and the changes to the law that they would effect, but I will keep my remarks brief because we have little time in which to finish a large number of groups. This is, however, not the...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Low of Dalston, for making some very important points, and I join him in thanking the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for clarifying the position and in particular for heeding and accepting the advice of the noble Lord,...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Low of Dalston, for making some very important points, and I join him in thanking the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for clarifying the position and in particular for heeding and accepting the advice of the noble Lord,...

I do think that we have got somewhere. That is the important thing. I was a little misled at first by the description of a non-departmental public body as a government department, but I have now reached an adequate pausing point for further consideration. I am very grateful to the...

I do think that we have got somewhere. That is the important thing. I was a little misled at first by the description of a non-departmental public body as a government department, but I have now reached an adequate pausing point for further consideration. I am very grateful to the...

While the noble Baroness is considering the important point made by the noble Lord, Lord Low of Dalston, can she give us an idea of the timescale within which she proposes to give noble Lords and others the clarification that we seek?

While the noble Baroness is considering the important point made by the noble Lord, Lord Low of Dalston, can she give us an idea of the timescale within which she proposes to give noble Lords and others the clarification that we seek?

Perhaps the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster can clarify the position. I was following her in reading Part 1 of Schedule 19, which is entitled ““Public Authorities: General””. I saw under the heading ““Ministers of the Crown and government departments””: ““A Minister of the Crown””, and "““A government department...

Perhaps the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster can clarify the position. I was following her in reading Part 1 of Schedule 19, which is entitled ““Public Authorities: General””. I saw under the heading ““Ministers of the Crown and government departments””: ““A Minister of the Crown””, and "““A government department...

My Lords, this is a simple, probing amendment and I will make some brief remarks. The debate about whether Ofqual should be included under the public sector equality duty was covered concisely and effectively in another place. I recall that in relation to this the Solicitor-General said: "““I completely agree...

My Lords, this is a simple, probing amendment and I will make some brief remarks. The debate about whether Ofqual should be included under the public sector equality duty was covered concisely and effectively in another place. I recall that in relation to this the Solicitor-General said: "““I completely agree...

Perhaps the noble Baroness can further clarify the point. I always tend, when looking at the interpretation side of any proposal before this Committee, to look at Clause 204, entitled ““General interpretation””. I could not see that a government department was defined there in the way that the noble Baroness...

Perhaps the noble Baroness can further clarify the point. I always tend, when looking at the interpretation side of any proposal before this Committee, to look at Clause 204, entitled ““General interpretation””. I could not see that a government department was defined there in the way that the noble Baroness...

My Lords, that reinforces the debt of this House to the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, its chairman, the noble Lord, Lord Goodhart, and the members of the committee—they have done an invaluable job. I hope that the Government will continue to listen to their advice. In the mean...

My Lords, that reinforces the debt of this House to the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, its chairman, the noble Lord, Lord Goodhart, and the members of the committee—they have done an invaluable job. I hope that the Government will continue to listen to their advice. In the mean...

My Lords, we tabled Amendment 120 because we wanted to raise the issue of accessibility of private hire vehicles for people with disability. The intention is to probe this area and discover what changes could be made, what changes should be made and what changes the Government hope to make...

My Lords, we tabled Amendment 120 because we wanted to raise the issue of accessibility of private hire vehicles for people with disability. The intention is to probe this area and discover what changes could be made, what changes should be made and what changes the Government hope to make...

First, I am very grateful to the noble Baroness. I hasten to reassure her that it was, as I pointed out, only a probing amendment. We are well aware of the importance of the private hire vehicle industry, which plays a critical part in making the necessary provision available. I...

First, I am very grateful to the noble Baroness. I hasten to reassure her that it was, as I pointed out, only a probing amendment. We are well aware of the importance of the private hire vehicle industry, which plays a critical part in making the necessary provision available. I...

I shall press the Minister a little further. The Minister may well think that this would be an appropriate case for guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. I understand that there is no clarity about whether we will get guidance. Will that guidance be available and, if so,...

I shall press the Minister a little further. The Minister may well think that this would be an appropriate case for guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. I understand that there is no clarity about whether we will get guidance. Will that guidance be available and, if so,...

125C: Schedule 23, page 217, line 39, at end insert— ““Landlord: possession of premises (1) A landlord does not contravene this Act so far as relating to disability by doing anything to obtain possession of the premises from the tenant pursuant to the provisions of section 21 (obtaining possession from...

125C: Schedule 23, page 217, line 39, at end insert— ““Landlord: possession of premises (1) A landlord does not contravene this Act so far as relating to disability by doing anything to obtain possession of the premises from the tenant pursuant to the provisions of section 21 (obtaining possession from...

My Lords, this amendment refers to the effect of the decision of the House of Lords in the Lewisham v Malcolm case, in which—your Lordships may recall it—landlords seeking possession from tenants with disability, particularly those suffering from a mental disability, did not need to justify their decision to take...

My Lords, this amendment refers to the effect of the decision of the House of Lords in the Lewisham v Malcolm case, in which—your Lordships may recall it—landlords seeking possession from tenants with disability, particularly those suffering from a mental disability, did not need to justify their decision to take...

That was a helpful intervention from the noble Lord, Lord Lester of Herne Hill, because I am seeking to tease out whether it is an objective justification to expect rent and the ability to evict for non-payment. That is the area. If what the noble Lord said is correct, this...

That was a helpful intervention from the noble Lord, Lord Lester of Herne Hill, because I am seeking to tease out whether it is an objective justification to expect rent and the ability to evict for non-payment. That is the area. If what the noble Lord said is correct, this...

This has been a helpful short debate because those who are still seeking guidance are going to receive it. The objective justification that I have teased out of the noble Lord, Lord Lester, will do much to reassure people in the mean time. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment....

This has been a helpful short debate because those who are still seeking guidance are going to receive it. The objective justification that I have teased out of the noble Lord, Lord Lester, will do much to reassure people in the mean time. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment....

126A: Clause 195, page 121, line 6, leave out subsection (3)

126A: Clause 195, page 121, line 6, leave out subsection (3)

Therefore, I should say that I will now await the views of the committee before deciding whether to return to this matter at a later stage. In the mean time, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 126A withdrawn. Amendment 126B not moved. Amendment 126C Moved by

Therefore, I should say that I will now await the views of the committee before deciding whether to return to this matter at a later stage. In the mean time, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 126A withdrawn. Amendment 126B not moved. Amendment 126C Moved by

My Lords, we have tabled these amendments, 126A and 126B, to raise another issue which has been brought to our attention by the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee. We have spoken a great deal about the order-making powers contained in Clause 195, which allow exceptions to be made to...

My Lords, we have tabled these amendments, 126A and 126B, to raise another issue which has been brought to our attention by the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee. We have spoken a great deal about the order-making powers contained in Clause 195, which allow exceptions to be made to...

My Lords, the noble Baroness said that there had been dialogue with the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee. It would be helpful if she could indicate whether the committee had expressed satisfaction that its concerns had been met.

My Lords, the noble Baroness said that there had been dialogue with the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee. It would be helpful if she could indicate whether the committee had expressed satisfaction that its concerns had been met.

I am not sure that I need to speak to our amendments, as they have already been opposed before I have said anything. I shall only ask the noble Baroness: is the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee now satisfied with what the Government are proposing?

I am not sure that I need to speak to our amendments, as they have already been opposed before I have said anything. I shall only ask the noble Baroness: is the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee now satisfied with what the Government are proposing?