In an assessment of the recommendations of the Smith Commission on additional powers for the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament, ESS Honorary President Professor Norman Bonney, observes that the proposals include no recommendations to remove the power of Church of England bishops in the House of Lords to affect legislation applying on non-devolved matters in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
These powers enabled the bishops in 2010 to have a decisive influence on the Equality Act which exempted religious organisations from equality obligations that fall on other bodies.
Prof Bonney’s assessment of the Smith Commission proposals can be accessed at http://www.democraticaudit.com/?p=9774
