It is unlawful for an authority or body which can confer an authorisation or qualification which is needed for, or facilitates, engagement in a particular profession or trade to discriminate against a woman—
(a) in the terms on which it is prepared to confer on her that authorisation or qualification, or
(b) by refusing or deliberately omitting to grant her application for it, or
(c) by withdrawing it from her or varying the terms on which she holds it.
It is unlawful for a body to which this section applies, in relation to an authorisation or qualification of a kind mentioned in subsection (1), to subject to harassment a woman who holds or applies for such an authorisation or qualification.
Where an authority or body is required by law to satisfy itself as to his good character before conferring on a person an authorisation or qualification which is needed for, or facilitates, his engagement in any profession or trade then, without prejudice to any other duty to which it is subject, that requirement shall be taken to impose on the authority or body a duty to have regard to any evidence tending to show that he, or any of his employees, or agents (whether past or present), has practised unlawful discrimination in, or in connection with, the carrying on of any profession or trade.
In this section—
(a) “authorisation or qualification” includes recognition, registration, enrolment, approval and certification,
(b) “confer” includes renew or extend.
Subsection (1) does not apply to discrimination which is rendered unlawful by section 22 or 23.
Subsection (1A) does not apply to harassment which is rendered unlawful by section 22 or 23.