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Dods reports on the opening statements from the Equality Bill second reading debate, in which the government calls on the public sector to 'lead' on equalities.
Harriet Harman today called on the public sector to "lead the way" in abolishing discrimination, as she spoke during the second reading debate of the Equality Bill in the Commons.
The minister for women and equality told MPs that the legislation would seek to create equal representation for women in public life, as well as increasing the number of black and Asian people in political life.
Political parties must address lack of black and Asian candidates in political life, Harman stated.
Labour has four times the number of black and Asian MPs compared with the other parties, she said.
The leader of the House of Commons also warned that "prejudice still blights the lives" of disabled people looking for work.
In response, the Bill will establish a provision for firms with over 150 employees to reveal the number of disabled employees in their workforce.
"The public sector must lead the way," she said.
And Harman said that the government would be consulting on whether it can outlaw, through the Bill, problems of multiple discrimination, where people suffer from more than one form of discrimination.
Discrimination can also be rooted in your family background, she said.
"This Bill places a legal duty on public sector organisations to play their part in narrowing the gap between rich and poor in the strategic decisions they take," the minister explained.
"I believe this is a good Bill, and a timely Bill and a strong Bill," she told the House.
Theresa May, responding for the Conservatives, said that the Bill has been so long in the making, that she was experiencing "déjà vu".
The shadow minister for women said that the two parties come at this issue from "very different perspectives".
In fact, the Conservatives will this evening move to block the Bill's second reading.
She accepted that the Bill had been a "labour of love" for Harman, adding: "We can see her fingerprints over many of the provisions."
But she continued: "The overwhelming sense that one gets on reading this Bill is an enormous missed opportunity."
She criticised many of the recommendations for being "unworkable and bureaucratic".
And she warned that as a piece of legislation prepared four years ago, the government must now adjust to the current economic circumstances.
"Equality is not something just for the good times," May explained.
"But the government has shown a complete lack of awareness of these changes of conditions."
The Bill was also criticised by the Tory shadow minister for failing to tackle the "root causes of inequalities".
"I do believe there are ways that we can champion fairness without penalising employers," she told MPs.
"People's lives will not be changed by the provisions in this Bill but minsters will no doubt feel that they have fulfilled their obligations," May added.
Evan Harris (Lib Dem, Oxford West and Abingdon) took issue with the requirement in the legislation for a public sector duty on religion.
He warned that it was "highly controversial" to extend the public sector duty to religion.
The reform could "entrench" religious resentment, he suggested.
But Harman denied that this would happen as a result of the proposed legislation.
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