Four leading business groups will today join forces to lobby peers over employers' concerns about the equality bill, which is due to start going through the [House of] Lords soon...The British Chambers of Commerce, CBI, EEF manufacturers' body and Federation of Small Businesses will brief peers from all the main parties at a meeting chaired by Baroness Greengross,...commissioner at the Equality and Human Rights Commission watchdog...they warned of the "pernicious effects" of some of the proposals, saying the extra regulatory cost for employers could hinder the economic recovery...The issues...include...criteria to block businesses with more than a certain number of tribunal findings against them from being awarded public sector contracts...a reserve power...allowing employers...to be required to report on the gender pay gap in their company...allow[ing] an employer to recruit a woman rather than a man when two candidates are equally qualified for the role...