BHA News: Humanist peers fight off clause discriminating against the non religious in new Care Bill ift.tt/17lQSXS The House of Lords has backed a Government amendment to the Care Bill which obliges local councils to take the ‘beliefs’ of individuals who are receiving care into account. This is instead of a previous amendment which proposed that councils should have a duty to promote the ‘spiritual well-being’ of care recipients. This previous amendment was defeated after Lord Warner, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (APPHG) pointed out that it would discriminate against the non-religious. The Government then proposed the subsequent amendment which specified the broader term ‘beliefs’ (which includes religious and non-religious beliefs), and this was passed unopposed. The Bill will oblige councils to promote the ‘physical and mental health and emotional well-being’ of those who are receiving care. During its Third Reading in the House of Lords, Lord Hamilton moved an amendment that ‘spiritual well-being’ should be added to this section, and five other Peers spoke in support of this. However, Lord Warner, chair of the APPHG (the cross-party group of humanist parliamentarians, which includes members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords) said that this would be ‘discriminating against humanists’. Lord Hamilton’s amendment was then lost by 271 votes to 96. The Earl Howe, a health minister, subsequently moved the Government’s amendment, which added the broader term ‘beliefs’ to the part of the Bill which says that councils must take an individual’s ‘views, wishes and feelings’ into account. He said: ‘My amendment quite deliberately does not refer specifically to “spiritual” well-being…That is because we do not wish to exclude those who may not consider themselves to have “spiritual” beliefs.’ The Government amendment was passed unopposed, and the Care Bill is now set to move to the House of Commons. Pavan Dhaliwal, BHA Head of Public Affairs, commented ‘We welcome the inclusion of the term “beliefs” in the Care Bill, as this will ensure that councils do not discriminate against care recipients who happen to be non-religious. The phrase “spiritual well-being” would clearly have discriminated against humanists and other non-religious people, and this makes no sense in an increasingly secular society, in which religious belief is in long-term decline. The law should ensure that everyone has equal rights, whether religious or non-religious, and make it clear that the mental wellbeing of vulnerable people in the most holistic sense is seen as essential.’ Notes For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs at [email protected] or on 0773 843 5059. BBC Democracy Live – Care Bill clears the Lords: ift.tt/1i5DNcT Church Times – Lords back ‘beliefs’ in new Bill: ift.tt/17lQSY0 Humanists in Parliament: ift.tt/17lQSY2 The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief. The post Humanist peers fight off clause discriminating against the non religious in new Care Bill appeared first on British Humanist Association.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 15:19:56 +0000
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