asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to Lord Henley's comment during the Second Reading debate on the Sexual Orientation Discrimination Bill that "strong and compelling evidence from those making the case is necessary" (H.L. Deb., col. 405), what would, in the Government's view, constitute such evidence.

The evidence would have to be sufficiently strong and compelling to outweigh the Government's long-standing and well-known opposition to further legislation in the employment field the effect of which would be to add to the burdens on business and adversely affect job creation.