Part of Equality Bill – in a Public Bill Committee am 2:30 pm ar 18 Mehefin 2009.
On the hon. Gentlemans specific point, I wish to make it clear that welfare provision is considered to be a service. The same protection applies whether the service is provided by a public or a private organisation, but the public body that commissions the service will have to ensure that it is provided to all. That is by way of an addendum. I am sure that we shall examine the relationship between public bodies and contracted-out services later. I hope that the hon. Gentleman is satisfied that it is wider than he probably thought that it was. That being the case, I propose that clause stands part of the Bill.