Asked by: Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to extend civil partnership to opposite sex couples.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The government is proud to have introduced marriage for same-sex couples.
We continue to keep the matter of civil partnerships under review. The government has consulted on the continued operation of civil partnerships and there has been little consensus. It is right that we evaluate the demand for civil partnerships before we make changes to the law. We are assessing the demand amongst both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. We believe it is still too early to judge how the law should be changed.
There was a Judicial Review of our decision not to extend civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples and the claimants have recently been granted an appeal to the Supreme Court.
As this is an ongoing legal case, we are unable to comment further at this stage.
Asked by: Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 1 November (HL2213), what are the terms and conditions of appointments of members to the board of the Equality and Human Rights Commission; and what sanctions may be imposed if those conditions are breached.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The terms and conditions of appointments of members to the Board of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) are set out in summary in the EHRC Commissioner applicant information pack, as advertised on the Centre for Public Appointments website. A copy of the EHRC Commissioner applicant information pack is attached and can be found at:
Failure to comply with EHRC’s Code of Conduct, a requirement within the terms and conditions is addressed in part four of EHRC’s Governance Manual; Code of Conduct and conflicts of interest. A copy of the EHRC’s Governance Manual is attached and can be found at:
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/governance_manual.pdf.
Asked by: Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 16 October (HL Deb, cols 393–5), what are the terms of the agreement between the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Lord Shinkwin regarding his participation in the Commission's work.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The Terms and Conditions of Lord Shinkwin’s appointment as an Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Commissioner are the same as those of other EHRC Board members.
Asked by: Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 16 October, whether the Equality and Human Rights Commission has the power to enforce the Equality Act 2010 in the civil courts where it considers the law has been breached.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The enforcement powers of the Equality and Human Rights Commission are set out in sections 20 to 32 of the Equality Act 2006, as amended by the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013. The Commission can investigate an unlawful act (section 20); issue an unlawful act notice (section 21); apply to a court for an action plan from a person served with an unlawful act notice (section 22); seek an injunction where necessary (section 24); provide legal assistance to an individual who is or may become party to legal proceedings (section 28); initiate or intervene in judicial review proceedings (section 30); and issue a compliance notice where it thinks that a public authority has failed to comply with the public sector equality duty (section 32).
Asked by: Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the benefits and costs to the UK of membership of the European Institute for Gender Equality.
Answered by Lord Nash
The European Institute of Gender Equality (EIGE) is an autonomous body of the European Union, which was established to contribute to and strengthen the promotion of gender equality. EIGE products, which include comparable data and research, have been utilised by the Government to inform evidence-based policy-making. However, there are a number of bodies, including the Council of Europe and OECD that produce similar products.
Asked by: Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the introduction of mandatory gender pay gap reporting under the Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Regulations 2017 is intended to facilitate the use by the Equality and Human Rights Commission of their enforcement powers relating to the elimination of unlawful sexual discrimination in the field of employment.
Answered by Lord Nash
Non-compliance with the regulations will constitute an ‘unlawful act’ and fall within the existing enforcement powers of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) under the Equality Act 2006.
The EHRC can investigate an employer who it suspects of committing an unlawful act, with a view to making them put it right.
Asked by: Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the reasons for removing the study of feminism and gender equality from the A-level Politics curriculum.
Answered by Lord Nash
A public consultation on reformed content for politics AS and A level closed on 15 December. The proposed new content for politics A level will require all students to study core political theories. This is an improvement on the current system which does not require students to study any political ideologies, including feminism.
We are analysing the responses to the consultation and have started work with the exam boards to develop the content in light of the views expressed. We will listen carefully to the views of the sector and the wider public as part of this full consultation process.
Exam boards will continue to set the detailed content of qualifications.
Asked by: Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 1 December (HL3647), why they have not yet published the 2014 feasibility study on caste discrimination.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
We are currently considering the conclusions and recommendations of the caste feasibility study as part of our wider consideration of the implications of the Tirkey v Chandok tribunal judgments. As I said in my reply of 1 December, we will keep the House informed of further developments on this matter.
Asked by: Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by Lord Faulks on 18 November (HL Deb, col 132), whether they have commended the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 to the Northern Ireland Executive; and if not, what are the reasons behind the decision not to do so.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The UK Government has demonstrated its commitment tomarriagefor same sex couples by introducing it for England and Wales, and haswelcomedits introduction in other jurisdictions.
The UK Government recognises and respects the devolution settlement in Northern Ireland. The constitutional arrangements in place mean that any decision to extend marriage to same-sex couples in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Asked by: Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish the feasibility study of 2014 on caste discrimination.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
We are currently considering the conclusions and recommendations of the caste feasibility study as part of our wider consideration of the implications of the Tirkey v Chandok tribunal judgments. We will keep the House informed of further developments on this matter.