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100761

registered interest
date	23/10/2014
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 Ministers for Women and Equalities, what recent representations she has received on the role of women in public life; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Thirsk and Malton
tabling member printed	Miss Anne McIntosh
uin	211750
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p>I receive regular representations on many issues including the role of women in public life.</p><p>We are removing barriers that prevent women from progressing in public life. For example, the Government has established the Centre for Public Appointments (CPA) in the Cabinet Office to ensure best practice is followed. As a result, the proportion of new female appointees to public boards has increased to 39%. We have also supported political parties to increase women’s representation thorough a combination of legislative and voluntary measures.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 28/10/2014 09:03:28 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

100825

registered interest
date	23/10/2014
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	Public Appointments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, how many (a) men and (b) women her Department has publicly appointed in each of the last five years; and how much has been paid to each (i) man and (ii) woman.
tabling member constituency	Ashfield
tabling member printed	Gloria De Piero
uin	211836
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p>The Government Equalities Office made the following public appointments to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in each of the last five years:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p><strong>2009</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2010</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2011</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Male</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Female*</p><p> </p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>5</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>* includes two reappointments</p><p>The EHRC Chair and Deputy Chair posts are salaried and the salaries over the period are shown below. The significant reduction in the remuneration is a result of the reduction in terms and conditions following the Government’s comprehensive review of the EHRC:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p><strong>2009/10</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2010/11</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2011/12</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Chair (male)</p></td><td><p>£124,000</p></td><td><p>£124,000</p></td><td><p>£147,000</p></td><td><p>£65,000</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Chair (female)</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>£55,838</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Deputy Chair (both female)</p></td><td><p>£59,533</p></td><td><p>£65,800</p></td><td><p>£65,800</p></td><td><p>£85,000 (including period as interim Chair)</p></td><td><p>£23,400</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Commissioners receive £400 a day plus expenses. In addition, two male Disability Commissioners were required to carry out additional work during the period, therefore additional payments were made as shown:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p><strong>2009/10</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2010/11</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2011/12</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Chair of the Inquiry into disability related harassment</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>£8,875</p></td><td><p>£11,750</p></td><td><p>£2,375</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lead on Disability Committee Review</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>£18,800</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The total of fees and expenses paid each year to each Commissioner is available in the relevant EHRC annual report and accounts.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 28/10/2014 09:02:42 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3915 label Biography information for Gloria De Piero

156085

registered interest
date	17/11/2014
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	Castes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, what representations she has received on the timetable for the amendment of the definition of race to include caste in the Equality Act 2010.
tabling member constituency	Foyle
tabling member printed	Mark Durkan
uin	214592
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2014 answer text <p>Since July 2013 when the timetable was published, the government has received a number of representations from MPs, Peers, organisations and individuals. These representations have concerned whether the timetable should go ahead as well as the length of time required to implement the various stages it contains. Representations from organisations in particular have included both those in favour of and those opposed to the introduction of legislation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 24/11/2014 13:12:09 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1594 label Biography information for Mark Durkan

156813

registered interest
date	19/11/2014
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: Females
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to address the gender pay gap in the financial sector and to increase female representation at board level in FTSE100 companies; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Hackney North and Stoke Newington
tabling member printed	Ms Diane Abbott
uin	215168
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2014 answer text <p>The gender pay gap in the UK is at an historic low. In the financial &amp; insurance activities sector, the overall gender pay gap is (including both part time and full time workers) down from 44.3% in 2011 to 40.2% in 2014. However, the sector still has a completely unacceptable pay gap of around twice the national average, so more needs to be done. We are strongly encouraging more girls to consider maths and science-related careers through the “Your Life” initiative. Women in the sector will also benefit from the many other measures we are taking to drive the pay gap down further, including extending flexible working to all employees; introducing Shared Parental Leave; and bringing in new childcare tax provisions. We are also providing free software to companies for them to calculate any pay gaps and to analyse the causes of them.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The UK takes a voluntary approach increasing the numbers of women on boards. We are making progress with the Lord Davies business-led initiative to achieve 25% women on boards by 2015 and have moved from 12.5% to nearly 23% of women on the boards of the top 100 companies since 2011. For the first time, every board of Britain’s top 100 companies has at least one woman. Government will continue to work closely with investors, regulators, head hunters and businesses to implement his recommendation of 25% women on boards by 2015.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 26/11/2014 16:39:26 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	172 label Biography information for Ms Diane Abbott

164479

registered interest
date	24/11/2014
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: Discrimination
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to tackle discrimination of disabled people in the UK workforce.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	215738
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2014 answer text <p>The Government is fully committed to the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits employers from discriminating against their disabled employees and job applicants with a disability. Employers are also required to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees so that they can work on a similar basis to employees that do not have a disability. Where an employee or potential employee believes that they have experienced disability discrimination, they can make a claim to an employment tribunal within six months of the alleged discrimination taking place.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring that all disabled people have the opportunities, chances and support that they need to gain and remain in employment, and there is a range of available provision to help them.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Equality Ac 2010 only applies to England Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland has its own disability discrimination legislation - Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 01/12/2014 14:29:23 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

166059

registered interest
date	25/11/2014
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: Directors
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, what estimate her Department has made of the overall change in women's representation in boardrooms in the private sector in the UK between 1984 and 2014.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	215897
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government supports Cranfield University which produces the Female FTSE report. This measures progress annually of the female representation on UK listed boards.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>· In 1999 the proportion of women directors was 6.29%. This included female Executive Directors (EDs) at 2.02% and Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) at 10.82%. In 2000 the proportion of female directors had fallen to 5.81%.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>· In 2011 the Government established the Lord Davies Review when the number of women on FTSE boards was still only 12.5%.</p><p> </p><p>· The latest figures published in November show almost a doubling of these figures since 2011. Nearly 23% (249) of directors in the FTSE100 are now women. Of these 8.4% (24) are executive directors and 27.9% (225) are non-executive directors. There are now no all-male boards left in the FTSE100 and we are on track to meet the target set by Lord Davies of 25% women on boards by 2015.</p><p> </p><p>With the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), Government also funds Cranfield University to monitor corporate governance practices in respect of whether companies are complying with the changes in the FRC code. The last report was launched by the Minister for Women and Equalities on 5 November. The report shows progress is being made in the FTSE 100 companies with 85% having a clear policy on boardroom diversity in comparison to 65% last year. The Government wants to see all companies addressing every point of the new Code in their reporting.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 28/11/2014 12:48:14 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

166060

registered interest
date	25/11/2014
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 Rights: Females
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, what recent discussions she has had with her international counterparts on protecting the rights of women and girls overseas.
tabling member constituency	North East Hertfordshire
tabling member printed	Sir Oliver Heald
uin	215837
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2014 answer text <p>We participate in the Commission on the Status of Women, which is the principal global event on women’s rights organised by the UN. My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Minister for Women and Equalities, recently returned from the US where she had a meeting with the Executive Director of UN Women, and others active in the field, to discuss the forthcoming session, which will be held in March next year.</p><p> </p><p>In the summer we hosted two global events – a summit with a focus on preventing sexual violence in conflict, which generated strong international support; and a girl summit, which brought together a range of international stakeholders to accelerate momentum in tackling child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation<strong>. </strong></p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 28/11/2014 10:35:54 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	69 label Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald

166605

registered interest
date	27/11/2014
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	Science: Females
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, how the Government Equalities Office pilot project to improve links between schools and businesses to raise the career aspirations of young people, which has been awarded to the British Chambers of Commerce, will be co-ordinated with the work in this area at (a) Engineering UK, (b) the Royal Academy of Engineering, (c) the Royal Society and (d) STEMnet.
tabling member constituency	Mid Worcestershire
tabling member printed	Sir Peter Luff
uin	216327
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2014 answer text <p>The aim of the School-Business Partnerships pilot is to establish long lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships in which schools and businesses work together. The primary focus of the partnerships is on business, particularly local business, rather than national organisations. In addition, each partnership is focusing on the sectors best suited to the local area.</p><p> </p><p>Four out of the five partnerships have incorporated some element of STEM activity in their programme. For example, two have partnered with STEM Ambassadors to deliver activities in schools and one partnership is hosting an event with The Royal Academy of Engineering next year. In addition, Government has shared information on the activities of Engineering UK, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society and STEMnet with the British Chambers of Commerce.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 04/12/2014 11:35:11 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	268 label Biography information for Sir Peter Luff

166800

registered interest
date	28/11/2014
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	Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund
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 22 October 2014 to Question 210908, whether the evaluation process of the Access to the Electoral Office Fund will involve members of the Speaker's Conference on Parliamentary Representation.
tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
tabling member printed	Kate Green
uin	216379
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2014 answer text <p>The assessment of the fund’s effectiveness will involve users of the fund, the Independent Administrator and the Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Stakeholder Group, which includes disability organisations, political parties and the Local Government Association. We have not planned for the formal involvement of the Speaker’s Conference on Parliamentary Representation, which existed from 2008 – 2010, however I was a member of that Speaker’s Conference and I am happy to hear views from any member of the House on how the fund is working.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has not published criteria for the assessment; however, it will focus on the extent to which the fund removes barriers to disabled people’s participation in public life. The assessment will draw on a range of data gathered by the independent fund administrator, including demand and the different types of support applicants require. The fund will provide support up to and including the General Election and it will be for the next Government to judge the fund’s effectiveness and whether and how it should be extended.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 216380 question first answered 05/12/2014 13:55:08 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

166801

registered interest
date	28/11/2014
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	Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund
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 22 October 2014 to Question 210906, what criteria will be used to evaluate the Access to Elected Office Fund.
tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
tabling member printed	Kate Green
uin	216380
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2014 answer text <p>The assessment of the fund’s effectiveness will involve users of the fund, the Independent Administrator and the Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Stakeholder Group, which includes disability organisations, political parties and the Local Government Association. We have not planned for the formal involvement of the Speaker’s Conference on Parliamentary Representation, which existed from 2008 – 2010, however I was a member of that Speaker’s Conference and I am happy to hear views from any member of the House on how the fund is working.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has not published criteria for the assessment; however, it will focus on the extent to which the fund removes barriers to disabled people’s participation in public life. The assessment will draw on a range of data gathered by the independent fund administrator, including demand and the different types of support applicants require. The fund will provide support up to and including the General Election and it will be for the next Government to judge the fund’s effectiveness and whether and how it should be extended.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 216379 question first answered 05/12/2014 13:55:09 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

167568

registered interest
date	02/12/2014
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 Answer Question 205841, tabled on 15 July 2014.
tabling member constituency	Tooting
tabling member printed	Sadiq Khan
uin	216887
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2014 answer text <p>Due to a technical error, the answer to question 205841 was not processed, as had been believed. I apologise and can confirm to the Rt. Hon. Member that the question has now been answered.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 05/12/2014 09:51:08 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1577 label Biography information for Sadiq Khan

168384

registered interest
date	05/12/2014
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	Living Wage
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many and what proportion of (a) the Government Equalities Office's staff and (b) staff working for companies contracted by the Government Equalities Office who are paid less than the Living Wage are (i) white British and (ii) from an ethnic minority background.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	217440
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>The Government Equalities Office (GEO) does not have any direct employees who are paid less than the living wage.</p><p>GEO, as part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, is not responsible for setting pay levels for contracted workers. This is a matter for the organisations who employ them. Where appropriate, the Department will include a clause in its contract terms and conditions encouraging suppliers to pay at least the living wage to their employees. For existing contracts where payment of the Living Wage is an issue, the Department has entered into negotiations with those suppliers to encourage to pay it.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 217419 217461 question first answered 15/12/2014 14:49:39 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

168385

registered interest
date	05/12/2014
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	Directors
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many members of the Government Equalities Office's executive board are (a) white British and (b) from any other ethnic background.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	217377
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>The Director of the Government Equalities Office is a member of the DCMS Executive Board. The DCMS Executive Board has 7 white British members and 1 from any other ethnic background.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 15/12/2014 12:17:19 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

168386

registered interest
date	05/12/2014
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	Living Wage
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many and what proportion of (a) the Government Equalities Office's staff and (b) staff working for companies contracted by the Government Equalities Office who are paid less than the Living Wage are (i) women and (ii) men.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	217461
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>The Government Equalities Office (GEO) does not have any direct employees who are paid less than the living wage.</p><p>GEO, as part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, is not responsible for setting pay levels for contracted workers. This is a matter for the organisations who employ them. Where appropriate, the Department will include a clause in its contract terms and conditions encouraging suppliers to pay at least the living wage to their employees. For existing contracts where payment of the Living Wage is an issue, the Department has entered into negotiations with those suppliers to encourage to pay it.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 217419 217440 question first answered 15/12/2014 14:49:39 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

168387

registered interest
date	05/12/2014
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	Directors
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many members of the Government Equalities Office executive board are (a) male and (b) female.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	217356
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>The Director of the Government Equalities Office is a member of the DCMS Executive Board. The DCMS Executive Board has 1 male and 7 female members</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 15/12/2014 12:18:02 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

168388

registered interest
date	05/12/2014
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	Directors
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many members of the Government Equalities Office's executive board are disabled.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	217398
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>The Director of the Government Equalities Office is a member of the DCMS Executive Board. No members of the DCMS Executive Board have declared a disability.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 15/12/2014 12:15:56 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

168389

registered interest
date	05/12/2014
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	Pay
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many and what proportion of (a) the Government Equalities Office staff and (b) staff working for companies contracted by the Government Equalities Office are paid less than the Living Wage.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	217419
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>The Government Equalities Office (GEO) does not have any direct employees who are paid less than the living wage.</p><p>GEO, as part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, is not responsible for setting pay levels for contracted workers. This is a matter for the organisations who employ them. Where appropriate, the Department will include a clause in its contract terms and conditions encouraging suppliers to pay at least the living wage to their employees. For existing contracts where payment of the Living Wage is an issue, the Department has entered into negotiations with those suppliers to encourage to pay it.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 217440 217461 question first answered 15/12/2014 14:49:39 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

168624

registered interest
date	08/12/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what progress she has made on implementing the conclusions of her Department's report, Advancing transgender equality: a plan for action, published in December 2011; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	217662
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>The Government has made good progress implementing the actions set out in Advancing transgender equality: a plan for action, and the majority have now been completed.</p><p>We also continue to liaise regularly with representatives of the transgender community to understand their priorities in tackling remaining areas of inequality and discrimination</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 218130 question first answered 15/12/2014 12:57:40 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

168722

registered interest
date	08/12/2014
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	Hearing Impairment
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 ensure that public and private service providers are complying with their duty under the Equality Act 2010 to take action to avoid deaf service users being placed at a substantial disadvantage.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
tabling member printed	Mark Lazarowicz
uin	217751
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>We expect both public and private sector service providers to comply with their duty to make reasonable adjustments for deaf people, but responsibility for enforcing this in particular cases is a matter for individuals themselves who may ultimately take their case to a court or tribunal; and the Equality and Human Rights Commission.</p><p> </p><p>The Commission is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the equality duty in England and non-devolved bodies in Scotland and Wales. The range of enforcement tools set out for the Commission under the Equality Act 2006 also apply to the equality duty, these include: compliance notices, judicial review, assessments under section 31 of the Act, statutory agreements with employers or service providers, and interventions in legal cases.</p><p> </p><p>The Commission publishes guidance on the public sector equality duty and its broader technical guidance provides an authoritative and comprehensive guide to the detail of the law for anyone who needs to understand the law in depth, or apply it in practice.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is supporting the provision of Video Relay Services and the eAccessibility Forum. We are also looking at improving the accessibility of Government communications for deaf customers and participating in the Accessible Britain Challenge initiative, which aims to motivate communities, including local service providers, businesses, employers, community, voluntary and disabled people’s group to do more to be inclusive and accessible for disabled people.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 15/12/2014 12:55:29 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1411 label Biography information for Mark Lazarowicz

169616

registered interest
date	10/12/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what progress she has made on the implementation of the report Advancing transgender equality: a plan for action; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	218130
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>The Government has made good progress implementing the actions set out in Advancing transgender equality: a plan for action, and the majority have now been completed.</p><p>We also continue to liaise regularly with representatives of the transgender community to understand their priorities in tackling remaining areas of inequality and discrimination</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 217662 question first answered 15/12/2014 12:57:40 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

169913

registered interest
date	11/12/2014
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	Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many staff are employed in the Government Equalities Office headquarter buildings.
tabling member constituency	Bishop Auckland
tabling member printed	Helen Goodman
uin	218309
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2014 answer text <p>On the 15<sup>th</sup> December the total number of Government Equalities Office staff employed was 52. All these were employed in the department's headquarters.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 18/12/2014 09:30:29 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1484 label Biography information for Helen Goodman

169914

registered interest
date	11/12/2014
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	Travel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how much the Government Equalities Office has spent on (a) taxis, (b) first class train tickets and (c) business class air travel in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Manchester Central
tabling member printed	Lucy Powell
uin	218476
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2014 answer text <p>With the exception of spending on taxis, and for travel before financial year 2013/14, the systems used by the Government Equalities Office did not routinely classify travel information in this way and producing it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p>Expenditure on taxis fares is available for the past 3 years: Prior years were not held in the format requested -</p><p> </p><p>FY Expenditure</p><p>09/10 information not held</p><p>10/11 information not held</p><p>11/12 £1,172</p><p>12/13 £2,297</p><p>13/14 £452</p><p>The Government Equalities Office has only been able to recognise the class of travel from 01 April 2013 when it joined DCMS under a Machinery of Government transfer. Prior to this date, information was held by other parent Departments of GEO and extracting this data could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Records show that GEO incurred expenditure for one business class flight during 2013/14 at a cost of £2,218.59. This relates to an outward trip as the Minister was due to attend a meeting immediately upon landing. The minister returned economy class.</p><p><br>No expenditure is recorded for First Class train tickets.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 18/12/2014 16:28:14 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4263 label Biography information for Lucy Powell

170547

registered interest
date	15/12/2014
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	Written Questions
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 savings to the Government Equalities Office from the Q&A system in the (a) 12 months and (b) five years since 4 June 2014; what additional ICT systems or improvements to existing systems the Government Equalities Office has introduced or plans to introduce that would not have been feasible without the Q&A system; and what assessment she has made of the extent to which the system has made it easier to answer questions from hon. Members on time.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	218782
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>No estimates have been made of the savings to the Government Equalities Office from the introduction of the Q&amp;A system or of the extent to which the system has improved the way it answers questions from Hon. Members. There are no plans to introduce any ICT systems that would not have been feasible without the Q&amp;A system. It will be for the Procedure Committee to evaluate the effectiveness of the new system in improving performance when it assesses the evidence following the end of the session.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 05/01/2015 15:17:18 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

171172

registered interest
date	17/12/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what progress she has made on the Government's Transgender Action Plan, published in December 2011.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
uin	219354
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2015 answer text <p>The Government has made good progress implementing the actions set out in Advancing transgender equality: a plan for action, and the majority have now been completed.</p><p>We continue to liaise regularly with representatives of the transgender community to understand their priorities in tackling remaining areas of inequality and discrimination.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/01/2015 10:50:52 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

171174

registered interest
date	17/12/2014
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 and Transphobia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she plans to take to raise awareness of transgender issues and transphobia; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
uin	219356
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2015 answer text <p>The Government is committed to tackling transphobia and raising awareness of transgender issues. The Government Equalities Office regularly meets representatives of the transgender community to understand their key concerns, and we raise awareness of transgender issues across Government.</p><p> </p><p>On 20 November this year, as we have previously, the Government Equalities Office flew the rainbow flag to mark International Transgender Day of Remembrance to raise awareness of transphobia and to pay respects to those whose lives have been cut short by it.</p><p> </p><p>Current Government initiatives to raise awareness of transgender issues and transphobia include:</p><p>- a £2m fund launched in October 2014 to provide grants to organisations to provide support to schools to prevent and address homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying;</p><p>- guidance for service providers on how to meet the needs of transgender customers and service users;</p><p>- guidance for employers on how to recruit and retain transgender employees;</p><p> </p><p>- advice for transgender individuals on privacy.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/01/2015 10:53:38 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna