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/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/1027212", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1027212/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
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/1022924", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1022924/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government believes that political parties have the prime responsibility for supporting their disabled candidates. We are undertaking a programme of work with disability stakeholders to help political parties to better support disabled candidates.<\/p>
Alongside this work we have launched the EnAble Fund for Elected Office which is a £250,000 interim fund to support disabled candidates, primarily for the forthcoming local elections in May 2019.<\/p>
The fund will help cover disability-related expenses people might face when seeking elected office which could include items such as British Sign Language Interpreters, Assistive Technology or taxi fares where other modes of transport are not appropriate.<\/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" : "2018-12-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-13T17:47:07.38Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Candidates: Disability"} , "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, with reference to the launch of the EnAble Fund for Elected Office, what support her Department is providing to help disabled candidates standing for parliamentary elections.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4436", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Cat Smith"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lancaster and Fleetwood"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Cat Smith"} ], "uin" : "200689"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1020607", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1020607/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government wants to support all young people to be happy, healthy and safe. That is why we are making Relationships Education compulsory in primary schools, and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) compulsory in all secondary schools.<\/p>
High quality teaching of these subjects will help children understand positive relationships, how to value difference and respect for others, and the law on abuse and harassment in an age appropriate way. The consultation on the draft regulations and guidance closed on 7 November. The Department for Education is analysing responses and expect to publish a response in the New Year.<\/p>
The Government Equalities Office continue to support this agenda, and has recently funded Phase 1 of the Law Commission review of online abuse law, to ensure women are sufficiently protected from online misogyny.<\/p>
Both the Minister for Women and Equalities and the Secretary of State for Education are committed to ensuring that both girls and boys can achieve their potential in life, and met recently to discuss women\u2019s economic empowerment in the education sector.<\/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" : "2018-12-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-13T17:48:05.84Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Females: Hate Crime"} , "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 discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on using the national curriculum to tackle misogyny.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1489", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dawn Butler"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brent Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dawn Butler"} ], "uin" : "199794"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1020612", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1020612/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Further to my answer of 13 November to my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Loughborough, I have received a number of representations regarding section 106, including from civil society organisations.<\/p>
We continue to keep uncommenced provisions of the Equality Act 2010 under review. Equality is never a one-time fix and it is right that we should keep re-examining the issues.<\/p>
This Parliament is the most gender and LGBT diverse ever, but there is still more to do. Political parties are responsible for their candidate selection and should lead the way in improving women\u2019s representation. Many are already doing so.<\/p>
The Government\u2019s Suffrage Centenary Fund is supporting a number of projects that aim to increase women\u2019s participation in politics, and earlier this year we announced funding for disabled candidates to meet the costs of campaigning, primarily for the forthcoming English local elections in 2019.<\/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" : "2018-12-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-13T17:49:00.137Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-06", "_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 representations she has had from civil society organisations on bringing Section 106 of the Equality Act 2010 into force.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1489", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dawn Butler"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brent Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dawn Butler"} ], "uin" : "199797"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1020614", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1020614/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We commissioned an evidence review into the menopause in 2017, which highlighted the important role employers can play in helping women to work during this phase of their lives. We have worked in partnership with the Women\u2019s Business Council to develop and publish a Toolkit for employers: Staying On: The Age of Success. This promotes flexible working alongside other solutions to support and retain women in the workplace who are going through the menopause.<\/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" : "2018-12-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-13T16:09:12.453Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Flexible Working: Menopause"} , "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 employers to offer flexible working arrangements to women going through the menopause.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1489", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dawn Butler"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brent Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dawn Butler"} ], "uin" : "199799"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1020642", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1020642/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
A) Since becoming the Minister for Women and Equalities in April this year, The Minister has had one introductory meeting with Stonewall to discuss LGBT policy, and one meeting with The Founder of a Women\u2019s Place.<\/p>
B) Since beginning its consultation engagement work in September 2017, the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) consultation team have met with the named organisations on the following number of occasions:<\/p>
i. Mermaids: once<\/p>
ii. Stonewall: four times<\/p>
iii. Gendered Intelligence (GI): three times<\/p>
iv. Transgender Trend: twice<\/p>
v. Fair Play For Women (FPFW): twice<\/p>
vi. A Woman\u2019s Place (WP): three times<\/p>
During the GRA consultation, officials in the Government Equalities Office also held roundtables with various groups, including: one on the topic of prisons and offender management, which was attended by FPFW; one with women\u2019s organisations and charities, which was attended by FPFW and WP; one with LGBT organisations, which was attended by Stonewall, GI and Mermaids; and one focused on Wales, which was attended by Stonewall Cymru.<\/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" : "2018-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-11T17:15:02.58Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Government Equalities Office: Meetings"} , "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, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2018 to Question 194662 and Question 194663 on Government Equalities Office: Meetings, on how many occasions (a) she and (b) officials in her Department have held meetings with (i) Mermaids UK, (ii) Stonewall and (iii) Gendered Intelligence, (iv) Transgendered Trend, (v) Fair Play for Women and (vi) A Woman's Place in each of the last three years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1545", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David T C Davies"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Monmouth"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "David T. C. Davies"} ], "uin" : "199833"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1019888", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1019888/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
On 3 December, the Minister for Women and Equalities launched the £250,000 EnAble Fund for Elected Office to support disabled candidates, primarily for the forthcoming English local elections in 2019.<\/p>
This is an interim fund while the Government undertakes a programme of work with disability stakeholders to help major and smaller political parties better support disabled candidates. Disability Rights UK, the largest pan-disability organisation in the UK, supported by the Local Government Association, will deliver the fund.<\/p>