Everyone in the UK should have the opportunity to progress and fulfil their potential in employment, to benefit both the individual and the wider economy. Despite accounting for just under half of all employees in the UK, women are more likely to be in low paid work than men.<\/p>
The Government has an aspiration to end low pay, and next year it will set out the Low Pay Commission\u2019s remit from 2020 onwards.<\/p>
The National Living Wage (NLW) benefits a higher proportion of women than men. In April 2019, the NLW will increase by 4.9% to £8.21. This is an increase to a full-time minimum wage worker\u2019s annual earnings of over £690, making progress on the government\u2019s objective for the NLW to reach 60% of median earnings by 2020.<\/p>
We will be publishing a strategy in the Spring on gender equality and economic empowerment that will include consideration of how we can best support low paid women.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-20T16:03:50.237Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Equal Pay"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to tackle low pay for women.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "202723"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1027450", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1027450/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
One of our aims for the Women\u2019s Suffrage Centenary was to ensure more women participate in politics and decision-making. Whether that is to vote, to campaign or to stand for election, women must be there making the decisions.<\/p>
Over the course of this year, the Centenary Fund has supported nearly 320 small and large projects. Many of them are designed to encourage participation by offering women across the country information and training to take part in civic society at all levels.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-20T16:02:47.713Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Candidates: Females"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to encourage women to participate in politics.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4677", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Giles Watling"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Clacton"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Giles Watling"} ], "uin" : "908346"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1029158", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1029158/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We intend to legislate to repeal the caste duty as soon as we have a suitable legislative vehicle and parliamentary time, and we expect to publish guidance on caste and the Equality Act before the summer.<\/p>
<\/p>
My Hon Friend will know that I have been determined to ensure this issue is resolved since I became Minister for Women and Equalities.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4017", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Penny Mordaunt"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Penny Mordaunt"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-20T12:04:29.607Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Castes: Discrimination"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "What progress the Government has made on repealing the duty under the amendment to section 9 of the Equality Act 2010 in relation to caste discrimination.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4005", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bob Blackman"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrow East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bob Blackman"} ], "uin" : "908344"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1029319", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1029319/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In common with other such Plans which it has published, the EHRC\u2019s Strategic Plan 2016-19 sets priority areas and intended actions for the Commission\u2019s own work over the three years in question, but does not make recommendations either for Government or for other EHRC stakeholders. The relevant Priority Area (\u201cCitizenship and Democracy\u201d) of the EHRC\u2019s Strategic Plan 2016-19 accordingly commits it to \u201cfocus on delivering improvements in relation to political representation and civic participation; anti-extremism and anti-terrorism legislation and surveillance powers; and freedom of expression and freedom to associate in a trade union.\u201d<\/em><\/p> The Government notes these commitments, but has not made an assessment of their merits in tackling the barriers facing women in politics and public life, or of whether they support aspects of the Equality Act 2010 such as Section 106. It is for the EHRC, as an independent public authority, to progress the commitments as it sees fit.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "204521"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-10T18:02:43.247Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Females: Politics and Government"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the recommendations in the Equality and Human Rights Commission\u2019s strategic plan 2016-19 on tackling the barriers facing women in politics and public life.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4370", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jess Phillips"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birmingham, Yardley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jess Phillips"}
], "uin" : "204520"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1029320", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1029320/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In common with other such Plans which it has published, the EHRC\u2019s Strategic Plan 2016-19 sets priority areas and intended actions for the Commission\u2019s own work over the three years in question, but does not make recommendations either for Government or for other EHRC stakeholders. The relevant Priority Area (\u201cCitizenship and Democracy\u201d) of the EHRC\u2019s Strategic Plan 2016-19 accordingly commits it to \u201cfocus on delivering improvements in relation to political representation and civic participation; anti-extremism and anti-terrorism legislation and surveillance powers; and freedom of expression and freedom to associate in a trade union.\u201d<\/em><\/p> The Government notes these commitments, but has not made an assessment of their merits in tackling the barriers facing women in politics and public life, or of whether they support aspects of the Equality Act 2010 such as Section 106. It is for the EHRC, as an independent public authority, to progress the commitments as it sees fit.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "204520"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-10T18:02:43.293Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Political Parties: Equality"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of whether the recommendations of the Equality and Human Rights Commission\u2019s strategic plan 2016-19 support key parts of the Equalities Act 2010 such as the implementation of section 106 on the Information about diversity in range of candidates.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4370", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jess Phillips"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birmingham, Yardley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jess Phillips"}
], "uin" : "204521"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1029330", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1029330/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "