To ask the Minister for Women and Equality when she plans to publish the draft Single Equality Bill; and what work has been done on the key principles of the Bill prior to discussion in Cabinet. (201391)

As my announcement in Parliament on 25 June made clear the Government remain committed to introducing an Equality Bill during this Parliament. The further policy considerations, and intensive stakeholder engagement, which the Government’s comprehensive consultation on its proposals for an Equality Bill provoked mean that there are no plans to publish it in draft.

The key principles of the Bill have been subject to collective consideration by Ministers in the normal way and the Government will publish its response to the consultation in due course. This will make the intended content of the Bill clear and there will be ample time to scrutinise this as it makes its way through Parliament.