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1124136

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Employment: Equality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has plans to introduce further auditing and fines for employers who cannot prove their gender equality practices.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	249918
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>Organisations with 250 or more employees are now required to publish specific gender pay gap data on an annual basis. We believe that this transparency is motivating employers to take action, but these regulations are new and we will be monitoring them closely.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to urge employers to go beyond the reporting requirements by publishing an action plan, setting out the steps they are taking to improve gender equality, just under half of employers did this in the first year. I intend to write to all public sector employers urging them to develop a plan, and will meet influential business leaders to press them to take action in their sectors.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 11/06/2019 14:56:14 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1124381

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Government Equalities Office: Secondment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many civil servants in the Government Equalities Office have been seconded to (a) the Department for Exiting the European Union and (b) the Department for International Trade in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	249913
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government Equalities Office (GEO) confirms no GEO civil servants have been seconded to either the Department for Exiting the European Union or the Department for International Trade in the last three years.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 22/05/2019 15:13:56 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1124692

	registered interest
	date	03/05/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Employment: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to help ensure that employers provide reasonable adjustments to the workplace so that people with hidden or invisible conditions are able to (a) access and (b) stay in employment.
	tabling member constituency	Bury South
	tabling member printed	Mr Ivan Lewis
	uin	250748
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The law is very clear that employers must make reasonable adjustments for employees and job applicants who meet the Equality Act 2010’s definition of disability, namely having a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on the person’s ability to do normal daily activities. Where a disability is not obvious, it will be necessary for the employee or job applicant to declare their condition, but at that point the onus passes to the employer to meet its legal obligations.</p><p> </p><p>To help employers comply with the law, the Government has issued guidance on the duty to make reasonable adjustments, here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments-for-disabled-workers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments-for-disabled-workers</a></p><p> </p><p>In addition, guidance on this subject has been issued by Acas and by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which has also published a statutory code of practice for employers. Where employers fall short on their obligations, legal remedies exist for employees and job applicants, together with Acas’s early conciliation service, which aims to settle disputes before they reach the employment tribunal.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 22/05/2019 15:13:27 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	441 label Biography information for Mr Ivan Lewis

1125354

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Equal Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, for what reasons the UK has not accepted the obligation under Article 4.3 of the European Social Charter to recognise the right of men and women workers to equal pay for work of equal value.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	251971
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>The UK Government supports the work of the Council of Europe and continues to support the European Social Charter (1961). Since the European Social Charter came into force in the UK we have introduced a number of policy and legislative reforms that provide equivalent or greater protections for individuals in the field of equal pay.</p><p> </p><p>We have also ratified a number of international conventions which provide equivalent protections and which the UK has implemented via national legislation.</p><p> </p><p>We are fully committed to the Equal Pay protections in the Equality Act 2010. In 2014, we introduced equal pay audits for when employers are found to have breached equal pay law and in 2017 we introduced gender pay gap reporting.</p><p> </p><p>Our equal pay legislation complies with EU requirements, which are reflected in Article 4.3 of the European Social Charter. We are committed to ensure that the robust protections provided by Equality Acts 2006 and 2010 and equivalent legislation in Northern Ireland continue to apply after the UK leaves the EU, as will Article 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which will become part of EU-retained law.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 11/06/2019 14:59:14 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1126178

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Department for Transport: Equality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what progress her Department has made on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 10 to reduce inequality within and among countries in respect of inequality within the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
	tabling member printed	Neil Gray
	uin	253589
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2019 answer text <p>The UK will present a Voluntary National Review (VNR) to the United Nations in July 2019, setting out the UK’s contribution to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), at home and abroad. The report will include the Government’s progress in supporting delivery of Goal 10 to reduce inequality within and among countries and will include an assessment of the UK’s efforts to empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all and reduce inequalities of outcome and discriminatory laws, policies and practices.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 14/06/2019 10:56:36 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1126966

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Sexual Harassment: Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Government response to the Seventh Report of the Women and Equalities Committee, Sexual harassment in the workplace HC1801, when she plans to launch the public consultations.
	tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
	tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
	uin	254853
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government will launch a consultation shortly covering:</p><ul><li>the evidence for introducing a new duty on employers to prevent harassment;</li><li>extending the protections of the Equality Act to volunteers and interns;</li><li>strengthening and clarifying the laws in relation to third party harassment;</li><li>the evidence for changing employment tribunal time limits for Equality Act 2010 cases.</li></ul><p>The Government consultation on tackling the misuse of confidentiality clauses in situations of workplace harassment or discrimination closed on 29 April and we are now considering the responses.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 24/05/2019 10:44:33 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1127660

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	EnAble Fund for Elected Office
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the EnAble Fund for Elected Office; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	256247
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2019 answer text <p>The EnAble Fund for Elected Office is a £250,000 interim fund and is available until March 2020 or until the £250,000 budget is exhausted. The Fund supported around 40 candidates at this month’s local elections.</p><p>We have commissioned an independent evaluation, which will be published after the Fund has ended next year.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 21/06/2019 13:23:39 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1127763

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Disability: Access
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to improve enforcement of requirements of the Equality Act 2010 on access to facilities for disabled people.
	tabling member constituency	Camborne and Redruth
	tabling member printed	George Eustice
	uin	256978
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010 contains strong, enforceable protections for disabled people who experience discrimination, including a failure by employers or service providers to make reasonable adjustments to enable disabled people to access work and services like everybody else.</p><p> </p><p>In 2018 the Government committed to the commencement of section 36 of the Equality Act, which will enable disabled tenants to require that landlords and building owners to make reasonable adjustments to the common parts of dwellings, such as entry points, landings and stairs. Work to determine the cost of implementation is proceeding and an announcement will be made in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which enforces the Equality Act, recently delivered a Legal Support Project to increase access to justice for people experiencing disability discrimination. It offered groups £189,000 for legal assistance across 94 cases in areas including employment.</p><p> </p><p>The EHRC has increased its capacity to advise on discrimination cases in its new strategic plan, and has supported several court cases which resulted in strengthened rights for disabled people, including those wishing to make reasonable adjustments to their homes and disabled children who may demonstrate a tendency to physical abuse as a result of their disability, whose schools must now make reasonable adjustments in such cases.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 11/06/2019 14:58:15 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	3934 label Biography information for George Eustice

1129384

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the provision of the HPV vaccine at sexual health clinics.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	259224
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2019 answer text <p>My right hon. Friend the Minister for Women and Equalities has frequent discussions with cabinet colleagues on a range of equalities matters.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Health and Social Care lead on policy relating to the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is that there may be considerable benefit in offering the HPV to other individuals who have a similar risk profile to that of the men who have sex with men (MSM) population attending Specialist Sexual Health Services and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinics. This wider range includes some MSM aged over 45 years, sex workers, HIV positive women, and HIV positive men.</p><p> </p><p>Clinicians are able to offer vaccinations outside of the national programme using individual clinical judgement, and HPV vaccination could therefore be considered for such individuals on a case-by-case basis.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 23/07/2019 11:36:03 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1129866

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Gender Recognition
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Government consultation on Reform of the Gender Recognition Act which closed on 22 October 2018, when the Government plans to publish (a) that consultation's findings and (b) its response to those findings.
	tabling member constituency	Tooting
	tabling member printed	Dr Rosena Allin-Khan
	uin	260092
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2019 answer text <p>From 3 July to 22 October 2018, the Government ran a public consultation on reforming the Gender Recognition Act 2004 in order to make the gender recognition process less bureaucratic and intrusive for the people that use it.</p><p> </p><p>We have had an exceptional response rate to the consultation on the Gender Recognition Act, receiving over 100,000 responses. We are considering these responses and the next steps. We will set out our response to the consultation later this year. This will include publishing the consultation results.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 14/06/2019 10:57:13 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4573 label Biography information for Dr Rosena Allin-Khan

1130003

	registered interest
	date	05/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Mermaids: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether Government funding of Mermaids UK will be reviewed.
	tabling member constituency	Monmouth
	tabling member printed	David T. C. Davies
	uin	260597
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government Equalities Office has not provided direct funding to Mermaids. Mermaids were allocated funding through the LGBT Consortium on the Anti-homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying programme 2016-2019 and this funding ceased at the end of the programme in March 2019. A separate extension to this programme was retendered from January 2019 to March 2020 and Mermaids did not receive any funding through this process.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 04/10/2019 12:47:17 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1545 label Biography information for David T C Davies

1130013

	registered interest
	date	05/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Transgender People: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether people under the age of 18 can transition gender through routes other than under the Gender Recognition Act 2004.
	tabling member constituency	Monmouth
	tabling member printed	David T. C. Davies
	uin	260601
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2019 answer text <p>The only method of legally changing gender is through the process set out in the Gender Recognition Act 2004. This involves applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate, which can then be used to obtain a new birth certificate. This process is only open to those aged 18 and over.</p><p> </p><p>Medical transition is governed by the NHS, and surgery is not available to those under the age of 18. Cross-sex hormones can only be prescribed under strict clinical supervison from the age of 16.</p><p> </p><p>Social transition, such as changing the name you are known by, and the pronouns you use, can be done by anyone at any age, and is often subject to a discussion between a child and their parents if it happens before age 18.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 23/07/2019 11:37:40 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1545 label Biography information for David T C Davies

1130705

	registered interest
	date	07/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Equality Act 2010
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to implement section 36 of the Equality Act 2010; and will she make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Riverside
	tabling member printed	Dame Louise Ellman
	uin	261477
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>Some parts of Section 36 of the Equality Act 2010 were commenced following Royal Assent to that Act. In March 2018, the Government announced its intention to commence the remaining parts of Section 36 in its response to the Women and Equalities Select Committee report on disability and the built environment. A commencement date will be announced in due course, after further work to identify and assess any additional burdens on local authorities.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 19/06/2019 14:38:43 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	484 label Biography information for Dame Louise Ellman

1130879

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	HIV Infection: Discrimination
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to ensure that people with HIV are not discriminated against when seeking tattoo, piercings and other similar services.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough
	tabling member printed	Gill Furniss
	uin	262416
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010 contains clear, enforceable protections to prevent people from being discriminated against or harassed because of a disability in the provision of services. A person with HIV is automatically protected under the Act because this condition is specified as a disability in the Act.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 19/06/2019 14:37:36 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4571 label Biography information for Gill Furniss

1130964

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Civil Servants: Ethnic Groups
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people have been employed at each civil service grade in the (a) Government Equalities Office and (b) Civil Service in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	262295
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>In April 2019, the Government Equalities Office became an integral part of the Cabinet Office. GEO staff are employees of the Cabinet Office, who are responsible for collecting workforce diversity and inclusion data. GEO does not have access to this data as the size of GEO means that individual members of staff could be identifiable. Prior to April 2019, GEO workforce diversity data will have been included in the data of the relevant parent department.</p><p> </p><p>The Office for National Statistics publishes annual data on Civil Service employment in the UK, including ethnicity data by department: <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/civilservicestatistics" target="_blank">https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/civilservicestatistics</a></p><p> </p><p>In addition, data regarding numbers of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic civil servants by grade is published at: <a href="https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/workforce-and-business/workforce-diversity/civil-service-workforce/latest" target="_blank">https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/workforce-and-business/workforce-diversity/civil-service-workforce/latest</a></p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 19/06/2019 14:38:10 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1130965

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Equal Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will publish the gender pay gap in each UK parliamentary constituency in 2018-19.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	262296
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2019 answer text <p>The Office for National Statistics publishes gender pay gaps by home parliamentary constituency on an annual basis. These are available online in ‘Home Parliamentary Constituency table’ 10.12, they also publish this data by place of work Parliamentary Constituency:</p><p><a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/annualsurveyofhoursandearningsashegenderpaygaptables" target="_blank">https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/annualsurveyofhoursandearningsashegenderpaygaptables</a></p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 02/09/2019 16:23:08 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1130966

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Government Equalities Office: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will publish the number of staff employed by the Government Equalities Office by (a) grade and (b) policy areas those staff are assigned to.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	262297
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2019 answer text <p>As at 14 June 2019, GEO has 110 staff in post (107 FTE).</p><p> </p><p>GEO staff work on a range of priority areas, including work to empower all women to reach their full potential, advancing equality for LGBT people, ensuring our laws protect equality and provide equal rights and driving forward work to put qualities at the heart of government.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 25/07/2019 09:27:01 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1131220

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Government Equalities Office: Written Questions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to respond to Question 251971 on Equal Pay, tabled by the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion on 8 May 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	263129
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>This Question was answered on 11 June 2019.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 19/06/2019 14:37:12 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1131371

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Government Equalities Office: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what progress has been made on the Government Equalities Office review of its engagement with women and women's organisations; and when she plans to publish the findings of that review.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	263099
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>The former Minister for Women and Equalities, my Rt Hon. Friend for Portsmouth North, told the Women and Equalities Select Committee in December 2018 she had commissioned a programme to enable the Equalities Office to better engage with women’s organisations.This was a programme of work and not a formal review of engagement. The programme is reaching organisations across the country and includes a City Listening project in Bristol, Leicester and Leeds where forums are being held for women to make their voices better heard by policy makers.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 08/10/2019 16:03:47 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1131372

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to implement the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s (CEDAW) conclusions from its recent examination of the UK's 8th CEDAW periodic report.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	263100
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2019 answer text <p>The UK was examined by the UN CEDAW Committee on 26 February 2019. The UK delegation was able to set out the progress we have made on the implementation of CEDAW and positively engaged with the Committee. On 11 March the Committee published its Concluding Observations and Recommendations.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has an ambitious programme of action to tackle gender inequalities – for example in relation to domestic abuse and economic empowerment – and delivering this will support our implementation of the recommendations made by the Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women.</p><p> </p><p>We plan to publish a roadmap to gender equality later this year which will set out Government plans to address the persistent gendered economic barriers women – and men – are facing across the country, at every stage of their lives. This will help women have financial independence and resilience, as well as real choice and influence over the economic decisions in their lives.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 27/06/2019 13:37:20 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1131373

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Equal Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many Equality and Human Rights Commission staff are responsible for assessing the accuracy of employers’ gender pay gap data.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	263101
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2019 answer text <p>The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is independent from government and makes its own decisions about the deployment of its staff. My officials have asked the CEO of the EHRC to write directly to the MP with the answer. I will place a copy of the letter in the library.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 30/09/2019 16:49:05 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1131375

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Equal Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Equality and Human Rights Commission assesses the accuracy of the gender pay gap figures filed by employers for the 2018-19 reporting year.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	263102
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2019 answer text <p>It is an employer’s legal responsibility to ensure that they report on time and that their figures are accurate. The vast majority of the over 10,000 organisations that reported this year have reported their data on time.</p><p> </p><p>In 2018, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) undertook an investigation into 100 employers suspected of publishing inaccurate gender pay gap figures for the 2017/18 reporting year. The EHRC now intends to carry out the same action on employers’ suspected of publishing inaccurate data for the 2018/19 reporting year and will take enforcement action where appropriate.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 23/07/2019 11:29:28 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1131376

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Government Equalities Office: Behavioural Insights Team
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will provide the (a) full cost breakdown and (b) agreed programme of work and outcomes of the contract her Department has tendered with the Behavioural Insights Team on work relating to the gender pay gap.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	263103
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring that the UK is an international leader on gender equality research, so that employers have the tools and knowledge they need to close their gender pay gaps.</p><p>In September 2017, we invested £2 million in the Gender and Behavioural Insights programme (GABI), a two-year partnership between GEO and the Behavioural Insights Team to understand how behavioural science techniques can help to improve gender equality in the workplace. In December 2018 we extended the GABI programme for a third year, investing a further £1 million. Information on further breakdown of costs is commercially sensitive.</p><p> </p><p>The GABI programme is working with large UK-based employers to design, trial and evaluate behavioural interventions to reduce the gender pay gap and improve gender equality more broadly. It is also taking forward a suite of other behavioural science trials including on recruitment, returners, part time working, parental leave, gendered feedback and others.</p><p> </p><p>In August 2018, the GABI programme published guidance for employers to understand what actions are likely to improve recruitment and progression of women and reduce the gender pay gap, which was actively welcomed by businesses: <a href="https://gender-pay-gap.service.gov.uk/actions-to-close-the-gap" target="_blank">https://gender-pay-gap.service.gov.uk/actions-to-close-the-gap</a>. This guidance will be updated in the autumn alongside a set of new Implementation Guides.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 19/06/2019 14:36:45 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1132278

	registered interest
	date	14/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Females: Public Appointments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking, in addition the £5 million centenary fund, to ensure women and underrepresented groups are better represented in public life.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	264738
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/10/2019 answer text <p>Political parties are responsible for greater diversity amongst their candidates.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is working with them to better support their disabled candidates. Whilst this is ongoing we launched the £250,000 interim EnAble Fund. The fund supported around 40 disabled candidates in the local elections in May. We have commissioned an independent evaluation, which will include assessments of average grants made and will be published after the Fund has closed next year.</p><p>The Centenary Fund supported nearly 320 projects including events encouraging nearly 800 women to stand for election, creating a pipeline of talent ready to enter public life.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 04/10/2019 12:39:23 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1132279

	registered interest
	date	14/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Women's Business Council
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent assessment she has made of the merits of the work of the Women's Business Council; and what its forthcoming work programme will be.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	264739
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>The Women’s Business Council published its inaugural report five years ago. Since then we have seen a significant shift in women’s participation in, and experiences of, the workplace.</p><p>The Council has successfully influenced government policy on shared parental leave, flexible working and the provision of childcare. Members have raised the profile of issues with business leaders and developed specific programmes and toolkits for the business community.</p><p>I would like to pay tribute to the current Chair, Dame Cilla Snowball as she steps down from office next month, for overseeing the success of the Council’s programme.</p><p>We will be announcing the new Chair of the Women’s Business Council and its future business programme shortly.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 19/06/2019 16:58:09 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1132280

	registered interest
	date	14/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Career Breaks: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many women have returned to the labour market as a result of funding from the Women Returners programme.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	264740
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>Three rounds of funding for Returners Grants have been announced since March 2018, with £1.5 million now awarded to sixteen organisations supporting returners. Successful organisations funded under the first round began their programmes early this year.</p><p>These programmes provide extensive support to returners, supporting them to develop skills, build confidence, and complete accredited qualifications and training before they return to the labour market. Employment opportunities for returners taking part in the first round of projects will be sourced later this year.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 19/06/2019 16:58:45 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1132281

	registered interest
	date	14/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Career Breaks: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) disabled and (b) black, Asian and minority ethnic group women who have returned to the labour market as a result of funding from the Women Returners programme.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	264741
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>Three rounds of funding for Returner Grants have been announced since March 2018, with £1.5 million now awarded to sixteen organisations supporting returners. These programmes provide extensive support to returners, supporting them to develop skills, build confidence, and complete accredited qualifications and training, before they return to the labour market.</p><p>Programmes funded under the Returners Grant Fund will capture data on the protected characteristics of participants as part of programme evaluation. This will include ethnicity, disability, age, education and length of unemployment. Evaluation reports will be published upon the completion of all returner programmes funded by GEO.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 19/06/2019 16:59:41 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1132867

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Sustainable Development: Gender
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU with no deal on her Department’s ability to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5 in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
	tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
	uin	266130
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2019 answer text <p>Leaving the EU, with or without a deal, will not affect our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. The UK’s first Voluntary National Review (VNR) was published in July 2019 and highlights UK action both domestically and internationally in support of Goal 5. It also outlines key challenges and next steps, recognising that while progress is being made, there is more work to do.</p><p>We remain committed to supporting the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals both domestically and internationally when we leave the EU.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 02/09/2019 16:20:05 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

1132872

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Disadvantaged: Sustainable Development
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU with no deal on her Department’s ability to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 10 in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
	tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
	uin	266135
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2019 answer text <p>Leaving the EU, with or without a deal, will not affect our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. The UK’s first Voluntary National Review (VNR) was published in July 2019 and highlights UK action both domestically and internationally in support of Goal 10. It also outlines key challenges and next steps, recognising that while progress is being made, there is more work to do.</p><p>We remain committed to supporting the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals both domestically and internationally when we leave the EU.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 02/09/2019 16:16:48 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

1133300

	registered interest
	date	20/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Civil Partnerships: Heterosexuality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to use the powers in section 2(1) of the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019 to amend the Civil Partnership Act 2004 to enable two persons who are not of the same sex to form a civil partnership in England and Wales.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol North West
	tabling member printed	Darren Jones
	uin	266884
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government intends to change the law by regulations to extend civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples, as required by the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019, by 31 December 2019.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 23/07/2019 11:31:22 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4621 label Biography information for Darren Jones

1133563

	registered interest
	date	20/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Employment: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to ensure that employers are offering disability leave to disabled employees as part of reasonable adjustments.
	tabling member constituency	Warwick and Leamington
	tabling member printed	Matt Western
	uin	267246
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to protecting people with disabilities in the workplace and The Equality Act 2010 places obligations on employers with disabled employees, including the requirement to make reasonable adjustments, which may include granting leave related to the employee's disability.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Act recognises the need to strike a balance between the needs of disabled people and those of employers. What is ‘reasonable’ will be different for each employer because of factors such as the practicality and the cost of making the adjustment. A court or tribunal may ultimately make a final decision on whether a particular person meets the definition of disability in the Act and whether an adjustment request is reasonable.</p><p> </p><p>Practical advice on reasonable adjustments is available from a number of sources, including Acas and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The EHRC’s examples of reasonable adjustments for employers include disability leave.</p><p> </p><p>If a disabled person feels that they have not been treated fairly by an employer, the Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS) offers information and advice about discrimination, including disability discrimination. EASS can be contacted by telephone, via an online contact form or by post.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 23/07/2019 13:31:57 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4617 label Biography information for Matt Western

1133874

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Government Equalities Office: Public Expenditure
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the (a) administrative and (b) programme budget is for the Government Equalities Office in (a) 2019-20 and (b) any subsequent financial years for which a budget has been allocated.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley East
	tabling member printed	Stephanie Peacock
	uin	267766
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2019 answer text <p>For the 2019-20 financial year, GEO has an administrative budget of £5.8m and a programme budget of £12.2m.</p><p>GEO's budgets in future financial years are subject to the upcoming Spending Review.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 02/09/2019 16:44:39 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4607 label Biography information for Stephanie Peacock

1134177

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Equality Act 2010
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2019 to Question 261477 on Equality Act 2010, when she plans to start the consultation with local authorities; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Riverside
	tabling member printed	Dame Louise Ellman
	uin	268405
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2019 answer text <p>Question 261477 refers to the commencement of Section 36 of the Equality Act 2010. Some parts of Section 36 of the Equality Act 2010 were commenced following Royal Assent to that Act. In March 2018, the Government announced its intention to commence the remaining parts of Section 36, which will enable disabled tenants to require that landlords and building owners to make reasonable adjustments to the common parts of dwellings, such as entry points, landings and stairs.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is already consulting with local authorities to help identify and quantify any additional burdens this may have. A commencement date will be announced in due course.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 27/06/2019 13:38:29 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	484 label Biography information for Dame Louise Ellman

1134885

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Sexual Harassment: Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of making an employer legally liable if they fail to protect their staff from sexual harassment at work.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	269629
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2019 answer text <p>Under the existing law employers are already liable for harassment carried out by their employees at work, unless they have taken ‘all reasonable steps’ to prevent it. A duty on employers to prevent harassment would not therefore change the legal responsibility of employers to take steps to prevent sexual harassment in their workplaces.</p><p>However, following a recommendation by the Women and Equalities Select Committee for an explicit duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, the Government launched a consultation this month which will explore the evidence for introducing such a duty.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 02/09/2019 16:29:27 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1135478

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Amendment) (Sibling Couples) Bill (HL)
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of the Government supporting the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Amendment) (Sibling Couples) Bill [HL] 2017-19.
	tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
	tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
	uin	270808
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is very clear that there is a significant difference between an intimate partner relationship (for which civil partnerships are intended) and a relationship between siblings or other family members.</p><p>We have no intention of extending civil partnerships to siblings, and are not supporting the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Amendment) (Sibling Couples) [HL] 2017-19 Private Members Bill.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 23/07/2019 14:49:43 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1135561

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Amendment) (Sibling Couples) Bill (HL)
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether an estimate has been made of the number of sibling couples who will be affected by the provisions of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Amendment) (Sibling Couples) Bill [HL] 2017-19; and if se will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
	tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
	uin	270818
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government has made no estimate of the number of siblings who would be affected by the provisions of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Amendment) (Sibling Couples) Bill [HL] 2017-19.</p><p>The Government is very clear that there is a significant difference between an intimate partner relationship (for which civil partnerships are intended) and a relationship between siblings or other family members and has no intention of extending civil partnerships to siblings.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 02/10/2019 10:08:08 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1136240

	registered interest
	date	02/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Assistance Animals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Equality Act 2010, what steps the Government is taking to inform businesses and the service sector of the rights of assistance dogs.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	272197
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Hon.Member for Rotherham to the answer I gave her today, UIN: 290800.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 01/10/2019 11:59:04 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1136241

	registered interest
	date	02/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Assistance Animals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Equality Act 2010 in relation to assistance dogs.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	272198
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Hon. Member for Rotherham to the answer I gave her today, UIN: 290801.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 01/10/2019 12:03:41 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1136242

	registered interest
	date	02/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Assistance Animals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will take steps to amend the definition for assistance dog to ensure that it applies to the Equality Act 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	272199
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2019 answer text <p>Section 173(1) of the Equality Act (the Act) already sets out a definition of an assistance dog in relation to those sections of the Act – applicable to taxis and private hire vehicles - which refer to assistance dogs, as follows:</p><p>a dog which has been trained to guide a blind person;</p><p>a dog which has been trained to assist a deaf person;</p><p>a dog which has been trained by a prescribed charity to assist a disabled person who has a disability that consists of epilepsy or otherwise affects the person's mobility, manual dexterity, physical co-ordination or ability to lift, carry or otherwise move everyday objects;</p><p>a dog of a prescribed category which has been trained to assist a disabled person who has a disability (other than one falling within paragraph (c)) of a prescribed kind;</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 23/07/2019 14:56:24 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1136517

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Assistance Animals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her Department's policies of the recommendations in the report by the charity Guide Dogs entitled, Access denied: a report into the frequency and impact of access refusals on assistance dog owners in 2019, on the establishment of an equality ombudsman.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	272844
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2019 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve disabled people’s access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. This reasonable adjustment duty is an anticipatory duty therefore those who provide goods, facilities and services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require, including auxiliary aids.</p><p> </p><p>The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is the public body responsible for enforcing the Equality Act. In 2017, the EHRC published two pieces of guidance - a guide to help businesses understand what they can do to meet their legal duties to assistance dog owners, and a guide to help tourism businesses welcome people with access requirements. The EHRC also supports disabled individuals who have experienced discrimination to take their cases to court. The EHRC has delivered a Legal Support Project to increase access to justice for people experiencing disability discrimination. In 2017/18 it offered disabled groups £189,000 for legal assistance across 94 cases in areas including employment, education and public services. The EHRC is also increasing its legal capacity to advise on discrimination cases.&quot;</p><p> </p><p>In the Government’s view, an equalities ombudsman as recommended by the Guide Dogs report would not usefully add to the EHRC’s functions.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 23/07/2019 14:57:02 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1136693

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Immigration: Windrush Generation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to support the Home Office in its internal investigation into the causes of the Windrush scandal.
	tabling member constituency	Newport West
	tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
	uin	272952
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/10/2019 answer text <p>My Rt Hon. Friend the Home Secretary commissioned a lessons-learned review to consider the key policy and operational decisions that affected the Windrush generation and appointed Wendy Williams as its independent advisor. We understand that Wendy Williams has been considering a great deal of material during the course of the review and has spoken with a wide range of people. The government will publish her report following its receipt.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 04/10/2019 12:45:01 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1137496

	registered interest
	date	09/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Conversion Therapy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to bring forward legislative proposals to make LGBTQ+ conversion therapy illegal.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	274439
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/09/2019 answer text <p>Conversion therapy is wrong and we are committed to ending these practices.</p><p>We have committed to considering all legislative and non-legislative options to prohibit promoting, offering or conducting these practices whether they are occurring in a medical, commercial or faith-based context.</p><p>The LGBT Advisory Panel are looking at conversion therapy to help us identify the most effective actions to end it. We are conducting detailed research into the experiences of those that have undergone conversion therapy and how it has affected them.</p><p>This is a complex issue that we will be approaching sensitively. We are engaging widely before bringing forward proposals, and we will consult on the final package to ensure that the actions we take are proportionate, targeted and effective.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 04/09/2019 13:32:37 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1137503

	registered interest
	date	05/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	LGBT+ People: Religion
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she has taken to promote LGBTQ+ rights in the religious community.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	274440
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government will always protect people’s legitimate right to free speech, to be themselves and to practise their religion within the law.</p><p> </p><p>These values are fundamental but we will not shy away from challenging cultures and practices that are harmful to individuals or hold them back from making the most of the opportunities of living in modern Britain.</p><p> </p><p>In July 2018, we launched the LGBT Action Plan, setting out comprehensive commitments on LGBT equality. These actions aim to help all LGBT people, of all backgrounds and faiths, reach their full potential.</p><p> </p><p>From our commitment to end conversion therapy to using behavioural insights to tackle deep-seated prejudices, this government is committed to building a society that works for everyone, regardless of faith, sexual orientation or gender identity.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 25/07/2019 09:25:43 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1137727

	registered interest
	date	09/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Members: Maternity Leave
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with IPSA on their rules on funding for maternity leave.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	275190
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2019 answer text <p>My Rt Hon Friend the Minister for Women and Equalities has not had any discussions with IPSA regarding funding for maternity leave but, like myself, she welcomes their work to improve support for MPs taking parental leave.</p><p> </p><p>We want all parents to take active and well-informed choices about balancing work and care, supported by a fair and clear Government offer. On 19th July, Government launched <em>Good Work Plan: proposals to support families</em> to consult on a range of options relating to reforming parental leave and increasing transparency around family friendly workplace policies.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 30/09/2019 16:54:13 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1138065

	registered interest
	date	10/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Equal Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of obligating all major employers in the UK to publish their gender and ethnicity pay gap data.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	275700
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2019 answer text <p>Since introducing regulations in 2017, organisations with 250 or more employees are required to publish gender pay gap data on an annual basis. This has sparked a national conversation, as well as prompting conversations in boardrooms across the country. The unparalleled level of transparency brings to light where inequalities exist, and is inspiring action from employers to bring about change.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have consulted on how best to implement mandatory ethnicity pay reporting, including questions on the main benefits for employers in reporting ethnicity pay information and which employers it should apply to. They received over 300 detailed responses to the consultation and will set out next steps in due course.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 30/09/2019 16:59:07 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1138423

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Business: Equality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to increase diversity across all levels of FTSE 100 companies.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	276168
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is working with the business community through the Business Diversity and Inclusion Group to coordinate action to increase diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The Government has commissioned and supports several business-led, independent reviews on promoting diversity. These include the Hampton-Alexander Review which has a 33% target for women on boards and in senior leadership positions across the FTSE 350 by 2020. Also the Parker Review to increase the ethnic diversity of FTSE 350 boards by 2024.</p><p>These reviews form part of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy which aims to build an economy that works for all.</p><p>Women hold a higher percentage of senior leadership positions than ever before with 32.3% of women on FTSE 100 boards.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 25/07/2019 09:25:18 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1138968

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Government Equalities Office: Written Questions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to respond to Question 267246 on Employment: Disability, tabled by the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington on 20 June 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Warwick and Leamington
	tabling member printed	Matt Western
	uin	277263
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2019 answer text <p>I have today responded to the hon. Member's Question 267246.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 23/07/2019 14:57:40 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4617 label Biography information for Matt Western

1138982

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Churches: Equality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions the Government has had with the (a) Church of England, (b) Church in Wales and (c) Church of Scotland on those bodies' exemption from equality legislation in terms of (i) appointments and (ii) provision of services.
	tabling member constituency	Gower
	tabling member printed	Tonia Antoniazzi
	uin	277266
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government Equalities Office has recently held discussions with the Church of England, and written to the Church in Wales, about exemptions for hosting opposite-sex civil partnerships on religious premises. We have had no discussions with the Church of Scotland on this matter as the legislation covers England and Wales only.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 04/10/2019 12:41:16 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4623 label Biography information for Tonia Antoniazzi

1138984

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Churches: Equality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions her Department has has with the Equality and Human Rights Commission on the exemptions from equality legislation applied to the (a) Church in England, (b) Church in Wales and (c) Church of Scotland.
	tabling member constituency	Gower
	tabling member printed	Tonia Antoniazzi
	uin	277267
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2019 answer text <p>The Government Equalities Office has not had any recent discussions with the Equality and Human Rights Commission about this issue.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 02/09/2019 16:29:52 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4623 label Biography information for Tonia Antoniazzi

1138985

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Church of England: Equality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government has taken to monitor Church of England compliance with equality legislation.
	tabling member constituency	Gower
	tabling member printed	Tonia Antoniazzi
	uin	277268
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government does not routinely monitor compliance with equality legislation of any particular body or organisation, including the Church of England.</p><p>It would be a matter for an individual who felt that they had been discriminated against by the Church, or any other religious organisation, to seek a resolution including, ultimately, bringing a case to the courts.</p><p>In order to help assist in informal resolution of any situation, members of the public who feel that they have suffered discrimination because of religion or belief, or any other protected characteristic, can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service. That is a free service covering England, Scotland and Wales which offers advice on dispute resolution, prior to consideration of instigating formal proceedings.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 02/10/2019 10:05:36 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4623 label Biography information for Tonia Antoniazzi