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1547381

registered interest
date	01/12/2022
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Business: Equality
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with (a) the Minister for Women and Equalities and (b) Cabinet colleagues on improving (i) access to entrepreneurial career pathways and (ii) business ownership for people with protected characteristics in Wirral South.
tabling member constituency	Wirral South
tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
uin	100954
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/12/2022 answer text <p>The Government is fully committed to supporting businesses and creating the best conditions for enterprise so that everyone, whatever their background, has the means and know-how to start and grow a business.</p><p> </p><p>We are supporting early-stage entrepreneurs from all backgrounds through the Start-Up Loans Company which provides funding and intensive support to new entrepreneurs. Since 2012, 40% of Start Up Loans have gone to women, worth over £341m and 20% of loans worth 183m have gone to Black, Asian, and Ethnic-minority business. (as at October 2022). 106 SMEs in Wirral South have received loans to the value of £1,014,500 as of October 2022.</p> answering member constituency Thirsk and Malton answering member printed Kevin Hollinrake question first answered 09/12/2022 10:11:25 answering member 4474 label Biography information for Kevin Hollinrake
tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

1542879

registered interest
date	16/11/2022
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 her Department is taking to help ensure that businesses are complying with all parts of the Equality Act 2010.
tabling member constituency	Enfield North
tabling member printed	Feryal Clark
uin	89071
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2022 answer text <p>It is the responsibility of all businesses to ensure that they are aware of their obligations under the Equality Act 2010 (the Act) to their customers and employees. To help them in this, Government and relevant independent bodies offer a range of technical guidance and statutory codes of practice that clearly explain what businesses should and should not do to ensure that their conduct is lawful and not discriminatory.</p><p>The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is the public body responsible for enforcing the Act. The EHRC provides guidance to assist businesses, including service providers, to help ensure compliance with all parts of the Act. The guides explain how businesses can avoid the different types of unlawful discrimination, against customers and employees, including those with disabilities.</p><p>Guidance for any organisation providing a service can be found here: <a href="https://equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/guidance-businesses" target="_blank">https://equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/guidance-businesses</a></p><p>Guidance for employers can be found here: <a href="https://equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/guidance-employers" target="_blank">https://equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/guidance-employers</a></p><p>Tailored advice is also available to both businesses, employees and service users through two helplines. The Equality and Advisory Support Service (EASS) is a Government-funded helpline and the initial point of contact for anyone with discrimination concerns. The EASS provides free bespoke advice and also supports businesses and their customers to resolve issues using alternative informal dispute resolution. The EASS can also advise people who wish to take their complaint further on their options.</p><p>Acas offers a similar service to employers and employees, both information and early conciliation, where it is hoped that disputes can be resolved before progression to tribunal. Like the EHRC, Acas has also published guidance for employers to help them to behave in accordance with Equality Act requirements, for example their “What discrimination is by law” pages, that can be viewed at: <a href="https://www.acas.org.uk/discrimination-and-the-law" target="_blank">https://www.acas.org.uk/discrimination-and-the-law</a></p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 23/11/2022 12:12:59 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	4822 label Biography information for Feryal Clark

1176473

registered interest
date	05/02/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Business: Equality
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of FTSE 100 companies on diversity.
tabling member constituency	Brent Central
tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
uin	12849
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2020 answer text <p>BEIS Ministers have regular discussions with FTSE 100 company chairs and CEOs and with business representative organisations and stress the Government’s priority of improving diversity at board and leadership levels, especially in support of the Hampton-Alexander and Parker Reviews. We do all we can to promote business leadership diversity and inclusion.</p><p> </p><p>In that wider context, LGBT+ people should be able to be themselves in the workplace, so that they can do their best work and achieve their full potential. Many British businesses, charities and voluntary organisations are leading the way on LGBT+ equality at work; this is regularly highlighted by activities such as the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, which showcases the UK’s top 100 LGBT employers.</p><p> </p><p>At the Government’s request, the Financial Reporting Council revised the UK Corporate Governance Code in 2018 which requires companies to report fully on their diversity and inclusion policies, and how the objectives of these policies relate to wider company strategy.</p><p> </p><p>The Government Equalities Office LGBT Action Plan published in July 2018 has over 75 commitments regarding the representation of LGBT people in the workplace. This action plan was informed by the National LGBT Survey of 108,000 respondents and sets out commitments to improve the lives of LGBT people in the workplace.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 12916 question first answered 10/02/2020 17:47:48 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

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

1090970

registered interest
date	18/03/2019
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Business: Equality
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department​ is taking to increase diversity on executive boards of UK businesses.
tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
uin	233593
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to working with the business community to create more inclusive and diverse workplaces. The Government commissioned and supports several business-led independent reviews, such as:</p><ul><li>The Hampton-Alexander Review to increase the representation of women on boards and senior leadership positions in FTSE 350 companies to 33% by 2020; and</li><li>The Parker Review to increase the ethnic diversity of FTSE 350 boards by 2024.</li></ul><p>These reviews form part of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy which aims to build an economy that works for all.</p><p>The representation of women on FTSE 100 boards has increased from 12.5% in 2011 to 30.9% in March 2019 and among executive directors has doubled from 5.5% to 10.2% in in the same period.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 26/03/2019 17:40:11 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

513747

registered interest
date	18/04/2016
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 the Government is taking to encourage big businesses to promote gender equality and provide models for small and medium-sized enterprises to follow.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	34340
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2016 answer text <p>The Government is committed to full gender equality in the workplace, and we are introducing mandatory gender pay gap reporting for larger employers from April 2017.</p><p>We will support all employers to do this with a £500,000 package including: UK wide conference events, free online software and targeted support for male-dominated sectors. Employers of any size can join the voluntary “Think, Act, Report” initiative which has around 300 members leading the way on gender equality.</p><p>The Women’s Business Council has an SME representative to ensure good practice is promulgated throughout the wider business community, including a toolkit for businesses to support older women in the workplace.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 26/04/2016 16:13:30 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

513748

registered interest
date	18/04/2016
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 recent discussions has the Government had with businesses on reducing discrimination and promoting equal opportunities.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	34339
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2016 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring equal opportunities, so that everyone can reach their full potential and is working with business to achieve this. The Government has done so in a number of ways, including: The Hampton and Alexander review of women on boards and the chair of the Women’s Business Council, Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith will lead a review of issues faced by businesses in developing black and minority ethnic (BAME) talent, and access to the labour market.</p><p> </p><p>The Women’s Business Council, established in 2012, has produced a range of products to encourage older women to enter and stay on in the workplace. The Women’s Business Council has also been active in working with the finance sector to address some of the barriers facing some BAME women entrepreneurs. The Government has worked closely with employers to develop a range of measures that will help promote gender equality in workplaces and will require all companies with at least 250 employees to report their gender pay gaps. It is expected that employers will publish the required information from April 2017.</p><p>This builds upon actions already undertaken by the Government including a series of equality roadshows with the British Chambers of Commerce. These roadshows highlighted the benefits and challenges of diverse workforces for business whilst helping the Government shape guidance for business on older workers, women and disabled people in the workplace to tackle discrimination.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 26/04/2016 16:14:17 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

472715

registered interest
date	09/03/2016
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Business: Equality
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to encourage gender diversity in company ownership.
tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
uin	904105
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2016 answer text <p>The UK has been named as one of the best places in Europe to start a business with an increase of 900,000 businesses between 2010 and 2015. And around 1 million (20%) of all our SMEs in UK were led by women in 2014, an increase of around 170,000 from 2010. We have also exceeded the 25% representation of women on FTSE 100 boards.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 15/03/2016 17:27:00 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

93453

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Business: Equality
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to ensure that a conscience clause is included within equality legislation affecting UK businesses.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	210714
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that people are protected against discrimination because of religion or belief, and that they are able to exercise the right to hold and manifest their beliefs in a reasonable manner. We believe that the Equality Act 2010 strikes the right balance between the rights of people to manifest their religion or beliefs and the rights of others not to be discriminated against or harassed due to other protected characteristics, such as gender or sexual orientation, in areas such as employment and the provision of goods and services.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 21/10/2014 13:47:52 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn