0:00:00 > 0:00:00need to be sorted out in those talks with those parters, of course, we
0:00:00 > 0:00:04are in the right position and we look forward to transitioning those
0:00:04 > 0:00:08agreements to be a key part of our trading future.
0:00:08 > 0:00:14THE SPEAKER:Questions to the minister of women and equalities.
0:00:14 > 0:00:21Question number two, Mr Speaker. THE SPEAKER:The Minister for Women
0:00:21 > 0:00:29and Equalities. Justine Greening. All Government departments carefully
0:00:29 > 0:00:34consider the equalities impact of individual policy decisions taken on
0:00:34 > 0:00:37those sharing protected characteristics, including gender
0:00:37 > 0:00:44and race in line with strong spits to ealitiy. The national living wage
0:00:44 > 0:00:51will increase by 4.4%. Past increases have disproportionately
0:00:51 > 0:00:57gone against women as well as the disabled.Thank you. I does the
0:00:57 > 0:01:02minister accept the figures contained within the equalities
0:01:02 > 0:01:08report by women's budget group an done me trust showing
0:01:08 > 0:01:14disproportionate income on tax with women and those from ethnic
0:01:14 > 0:01:20background?Imam aware of that work. Part of the challenge is we need to
0:01:20 > 0:01:26see a clearer, broader picture in relation to how budgets affect bane
0:01:26 > 0:01:31women. That doesn't take into account the affect of the national
0:01:31 > 0:01:35living wage, the childcare amendments we've made. It doesn't
0:01:35 > 0:01:39take into account the work reducing the gender pay gap or the
0:01:39 > 0:01:42introduction of shared parental leave or the introduction of
0:01:42 > 0:01:48increased flexible working. The IFS has been very, very clear what's
0:01:48 > 0:01:52possible falls a long way short of a full gender impact assessment.
0:01:52 > 0:02:02That's the underlying weakness in the analysis.Would the Secretary of
0:02:02 > 0:02:06State agree there's a welcome announcement in the budgeted
0:02:06 > 0:02:12yesterday that £600 per pupil towards maths to higher GS level
0:02:12 > 0:02:17will be a huge benefit for women across the board as we have many
0:02:17 > 0:02:21studies showing women can eastern up to 20% more with those higher
0:02:21 > 0:02:25qualifications.She's right. This has been a focus for this Government
0:02:25 > 0:02:30tor the past seven years. The next steps announced yesterday, £600 for
0:02:30 > 0:02:34extra young people enrolling on A-levels. Of course, alongside that
0:02:34 > 0:02:40a commitment to do more transparency on stem A-level subjects girls are
0:02:40 > 0:02:46take can so we can focus in on the gender disparities and address them.
0:02:46 > 0:02:51It is worth pointing out since 201, maths A-level has in about the most
0:02:51 > 0:02:55popular A-level in our country. It shows we've a long way to go but
0:02:55 > 0:02:59this Government's already making a difference in encouraging young
0:02:59 > 0:03:07people to take maths.The Chancellor's £1.5 billion package or
0:03:07 > 0:03:17Universal Credit will do little to address the disproportion alley feck
0:03:17 > 0:03:25on EU women women will be £400 worse off. Can we make representations on
0:03:25 > 0:03:30behalf of these women.Two thirds of people who will benefit from the
0:03:30 > 0:03:35national living wage increases that will be increasing by 4.4% from
0:03:35 > 0:03:38April next year, two thirds of those people benefitting will be women.
0:03:38 > 0:03:45Because of the tax changes that we're making, 800,000 women will be
0:03:45 > 0:03:53taken out of tax altogether because of the increase in the personal
0:03:53 > 0:03:57allowance from 2015-16 to 2017-2018. We should all welcome that.Thank
0:03:57 > 0:04:03you very much. We know black and minority ethnic women face
0:04:03 > 0:04:06disadvantaged in society. Good information is crucial for sound
0:04:06 > 0:04:10policy making. I listen to the ministers concerns about the
0:04:10 > 0:04:13published information, about the impact for the budget. If the
0:04:13 > 0:04:16Government was to publish its own analysis on gender and race,
0:04:16 > 0:04:22everybody would be able to see and ministers could make good policy
0:04:22 > 0:04:27decisions about that impacts so all groups were protected.I think, as
0:04:27 > 0:04:35I've set out, the postibility is difficult. The underlying point
0:04:35 > 0:04:40everybody recognises it is difficult to do analysis. It relies on
0:04:40 > 0:04:47assumption on how incomes are shared in house Hodd. For Bale women and
0:04:47 > 0:04:50minority people, there are 3.8 million ethnic minority people in
0:04:50 > 0:04:56work. That's a rise of 1.7 million since 2005. It is worth me saying to
0:04:56 > 0:05:03the House, we have a particular push in relation to aapprenticeships and
0:05:03 > 0:05:09seeking diversity in who's taking those and a growing number of Bale
0:05:09 > 0:05:19women are doing that.Question three.Thank you Mr Speaker. The
0:05:19 > 0:05:242017 spring budget made a £5 million available for those in the public
0:05:24 > 0:05:27sector and private sector. We have already announced a number of
0:05:27 > 0:05:33programmes to help people return to work, including ones for allied
0:05:33 > 0:05:38health professionals, civil servants and social workers. I thought the
0:05:38 > 0:05:41Minister was seeking to group this with the honourable gentleman from
0:05:41 > 0:05:47Dudley South.My aologies, Mr Speaker. If I may group this with
0:05:47 > 0:05:57question 4!Thank you. The gender pay gap can be explained in part by
0:05:57 > 0:06:00professional women and others returning to the workplace in roles
0:06:00 > 0:06:04lesser to the ones they left before taking time off to raise families or
0:06:04 > 0:06:09look after loved ones. Could my honourable friend highlight what the
0:06:09 > 0:06:16Government is doing to address this particular shortfall?Yes, can I
0:06:16 > 0:06:19thank my honourable friend for raising what ask an important point.
0:06:19 > 0:06:24It should be remembered 89% of people who take time off work for
0:06:24 > 0:06:28caring responsibilities are women. Closing the gender pay gap is
0:06:28 > 0:06:35extremely important. Analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies showed
0:06:35 > 0:06:42women earned 2% lesson average for every year spent out of paid work.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46For women who are highly paid that's more. We're gathering evidence of
0:06:46 > 0:06:52what works and hope to public some best practise for small and
0:06:52 > 0:06:59medium-sized employers in the spring next year.Can my honourable friend
0:06:59 > 0:07:03also tell the House what measures the Government's taking to help
0:07:03 > 0:07:08employers to support women who've taken career breaks to care for
0:07:08 > 0:07:16children or other relatives?The £5 million available for returns
0:07:16 > 0:07:20programmes will be aimed at employers. What we need to do is
0:07:20 > 0:07:24understand it. It is a complex set of reasons that puts people off
0:07:24 > 0:07:29returning to work. That evidence will be gathered through that work
0:07:29 > 0:07:34will be important in making sure, as I said before, that the best
0:07:34 > 0:07:37practise guidance is published in spring and gives clear direction to
0:07:37 > 0:07:40employers to make sure they can harness the skills of those who take
0:07:40 > 0:07:47time off work.
0:07:47 > 0:07:53What steps are being taken to ensure that older workers, including 1950s
0:07:53 > 0:07:57born woman who wish to return to work, are given access to adequate
0:07:57 > 0:08:03training programmes in their own local communities?The honourable
0:08:03 > 0:08:08lady makes an important point and I make an interest as I consider
0:08:08 > 0:08:13myself an older worker. She is absolutely right. People choose to
0:08:13 > 0:08:16return to work at the Bradys times and we must make sure that
0:08:16 > 0:08:23facilities are available. -- various times. We need to dig deep to find
0:08:23 > 0:08:28out what are the obstacles. Confidence building with women is a
0:08:28 > 0:08:32significant issue when they have taken time off. The longer they are
0:08:32 > 0:08:38out of the workplace the more difficult that becomes.According to
0:08:38 > 0:08:43Government data, 54,000 women are discriminated against, forced out of
0:08:43 > 0:08:50work when pregnant. The £5 million is welcomed, can the Minister set
0:08:50 > 0:08:56out in more detail how many women will benefit from the scheme and
0:08:56 > 0:09:00mentioning the civil service, what'll be done to get women back
0:09:00 > 0:09:06into work after having a child?It is not just the civil service we're
0:09:06 > 0:09:09looking at Allied health professionals, civil servants and
0:09:09 > 0:09:13Horschel social workers. The social work programmes in London and the
0:09:13 > 0:09:19West Midlands, and the East of England. He makes an important
0:09:19 > 0:09:25point, encouraging women to get back into the workplace is critical. Also
0:09:25 > 0:09:31employers should be aware that there are very clear laws about what they
0:09:31 > 0:09:36can and can't do as far as these employees are concerned when taking
0:09:36 > 0:09:42time off work for maternity leave. Despite some of the best laws in the
0:09:42 > 0:09:46world, women in this country who are in work face more discrimination
0:09:46 > 0:09:53when pregnant at work than they did ten years ago. Will the Government
0:09:53 > 0:09:59look at making it clearer that employment tribunal 's have
0:09:59 > 0:10:03discretion in allowing individuals to bring discrimination cases in
0:10:03 > 0:10:07special circumstances outside of the General three month limit. And
0:10:07 > 0:10:15surely pregnancy has got to be a very special circumstance?She is
0:10:15 > 0:10:23absolutely right. Pregnancy is a special circumstance. It is the case
0:10:23 > 0:10:26that both women and employers are not aware of their legal
0:10:26 > 0:10:33obligations. Some of the work that we are doing on the gender pay gap
0:10:33 > 0:10:37reporting, will be an important part of that. It will highlight some of
0:10:37 > 0:10:41these issues and enable us to dig deeper into the reasons behind that
0:10:41 > 0:10:46the gender pay gap and I have no doubt that some of that will be due
0:10:46 > 0:10:52to discrimination against women in the workplace.Further to the
0:10:52 > 0:10:57response that the Minister gave to my honourable friend, can she tell
0:10:57 > 0:11:00us what concrete action the Government are actually taking in
0:11:00 > 0:11:05order to address the issue that 54,000 women are forced out of work
0:11:05 > 0:11:10in this country every year due to maternity discrimination. Women want
0:11:10 > 0:11:15to see action, not just warm words. I would point out to the honourable
0:11:15 > 0:11:20lady that it is illegal and unlawful to do so. They are breaking the law
0:11:20 > 0:11:27in doing that. One of the things that we can all do as constituency
0:11:27 > 0:11:32MPs, certainly any cases that come to your surgery, we can highlight to
0:11:32 > 0:11:39the women that that BC, and we all meet... The lady said from a
0:11:39 > 0:11:44sedentary position that she wants action from the Government. The
0:11:44 > 0:11:54action has been taken, it is against the law.With your permission I
0:11:54 > 0:12:02would like to group question five and seven. Refugees provide shelter
0:12:02 > 0:12:14for people of softening of domestic abuse. We have invested £30 million
0:12:14 > 0:12:22supporting victims of domestic abuse as well as supporting our refuges.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Refuges are places of safety for women and children in flight from
0:12:25 > 0:12:30domestic services and can be life-saving. Does concern
0:12:30 > 0:12:35organisations like women's aid that the changes in supported Housing can
0:12:35 > 0:12:40have the effect that seeing under pressure? Can he make sure we get
0:12:40 > 0:12:48the answer right to make sure we have a national network of refuges?
0:12:48 > 0:12:52The honourable gentleman raises an important point and knowing his
0:12:52 > 0:12:56experience with the police force he will understand this is a very
0:12:56 > 0:13:00complicated area. The Government is absolutely determined to get this
0:13:00 > 0:13:04right because it is of vital importance that we do so. It is no
0:13:04 > 0:13:07question that refuges providing life-saving role in the community
0:13:07 > 0:13:12and that is why we are consulting for the best way of ensuring that
0:13:12 > 0:13:16future funding is right to make sure they are supported as permanent
0:13:16 > 0:13:23parts the community.Further to my honourable friend's question, will
0:13:23 > 0:13:31the Minister agreed to meet Women Aid and other all -- organisations
0:13:31 > 0:13:36to talk about their concerns with the new funding model for refuges?I
0:13:36 > 0:13:42want to be sure that the honourable lady, the discussions are taking
0:13:42 > 0:13:50place. Ministers and my department have already met with Women's Aid
0:13:50 > 0:13:57and they will play a part in the future funding of refuges. The
0:13:57 > 0:14:02consultation closes on the 23rd of January and I will ask all members
0:14:02 > 0:14:10of this Parliament to take part. Women's Aid is one of the most
0:14:10 > 0:14:13inspiring organisations I have visited in my constituency but the
0:14:13 > 0:14:17finances are fragile. When considering future settlements for
0:14:17 > 0:14:22refuges, though the settlement be as long as possible pre-5 years in line
0:14:22 > 0:14:25to make sure that they brave and brilliant people who run refuges
0:14:25 > 0:14:34have the security to continue?He raises an important point and I
0:14:34 > 0:14:38would courage him and Women's Aid to take part in the consultation. In
0:14:38 > 0:14:44terms of the long-term funding of refuges for women, nothing is off
0:14:44 > 0:14:48the table. The Government has not ruled out a national funding scheme
0:14:48 > 0:14:54if that is what the consultation shows is correct.The Government has
0:14:54 > 0:15:01recently announced reforms to supported housing, it suggests that
0:15:01 > 0:15:06entitlement housing benefit means that when women enter a refuges, the
0:15:06 > 0:15:09money will be paid to local authorities. This is pulling the
0:15:09 > 0:15:14plug on secure funding and jeopardising the security of life
0:15:14 > 0:15:22saving refuge organisations. Given the answers today about stating he
0:15:22 > 0:15:26will work with refuges, will he meet with me and with the organisations
0:15:26 > 0:15:30to discuss the grave concerns they have about the sustainability of
0:15:30 > 0:15:39this model?I find it offensive that of the idea that giving funding
0:15:39 > 0:15:43direct to local authorities to support women in crisis in their
0:15:43 > 0:15:47community is in summary pulling the plug on them. We have been
0:15:47 > 0:15:51absolutely clear we will continue to review the funding for care and
0:15:51 > 0:15:56support and forever housing costs should be paid directly as grants to
0:15:56 > 0:15:59local authorities or not. We continue to explore all the options,
0:15:59 > 0:16:10including a national model for refuge provision.Childcare is the
0:16:10 > 0:16:15biggest challenge for working families, the Government is
0:16:15 > 0:16:18committed to supporting men and women to balance obligations. That
0:16:18 > 0:16:27is why we have doubled the entitlement from 15 to 30 hours. The
0:16:27 > 0:16:31right to request flexible working to allow parents to arrange care that
0:16:31 > 0:16:38works for them.Thank you for the response. Can he outline how the
0:16:38 > 0:16:45Government will practically support small and medium-sized businesses.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49They are the largest employers in Northern Ireland. To build flexible
0:16:49 > 0:16:57working time for them.Flexible working is good for the employer as
0:16:57 > 0:17:02well as the employee, helping morale, productivity and... It is
0:17:02 > 0:17:06vital that businesses retain and recruit key staff. Progressive
0:17:06 > 0:17:10companies understand this and how flexible working is an essential
0:17:10 > 0:17:13element in securing success. We are working with groups on how to
0:17:13 > 0:17:20promote genuine two-way flexible working.Brothers have a critical
0:17:20 > 0:17:25role in child care but the woman in a heard from some fathers that the
0:17:25 > 0:17:29take-up of paternity leave was very low. What more can the Minister do
0:17:29 > 0:17:36to encourage fathers to take an early role in child care?It is not
0:17:36 > 0:17:40what the Government can do, it is a cultural change that needs to take
0:17:40 > 0:17:45place in this country. She had a maternal leave did come in in April,
0:17:45 > 0:17:542015. We want to see the take-up of that extended.The public
0:17:54 > 0:18:01consultation about how best to ensure that there is appropriate
0:18:01 > 0:18:05and... Legal protection closed on the 18th of September. We received
0:18:05 > 0:18:0813,000 responses and is being analysed and we will respond in due
0:18:08 > 0:18:14course.Thank you for that answer. Given the thousands of responses
0:18:14 > 0:18:22that will have been received from British Hindus stating that having
0:18:22 > 0:18:26caste as a protected characteristic is divisive, will my friend take
0:18:26 > 0:18:30action to remove that from the legislative book that was introduced
0:18:30 > 0:18:37by the Party opposite?We appreciate that caste is sensitive and an
0:18:37 > 0:18:42emotive subject that is important to many people. It is not unanimous
0:18:42 > 0:18:48view amongst consultation about how best to provide the best legal
0:18:48 > 0:18:51protection for caste discrimination. We are considering responses
0:18:51 > 0:18:57carefully and will take into account all relevant points made.Does the
0:18:57 > 0:19:01Minister recognise that leaving people to recognise only on case law
0:19:01 > 0:19:05would not be sufficient because they would be uncertain whether the
0:19:05 > 0:19:10individual case would follow previous cases that might have been
0:19:10 > 0:19:13decided in relation to caste discrimination and that is why it is
0:19:13 > 0:19:19important to have legislation on the statute and she has expressed an
0:19:19 > 0:19:24opinion and we are looking at 13,000 opinions in response to that
0:19:24 > 0:19:28consultation.We want a proportionate response because we
0:19:28 > 0:19:33oppose any form of discrimination because of the person's caste. How
0:19:33 > 0:19:36we ensure that happens has to be proportionate and we will respond to
0:19:36 > 0:19:44that consultation in due course.The Government recognises that the
0:19:44 > 0:19:49provision of changing facilities is an important issue for people whose
0:19:49 > 0:19:58needs are not met by standard public lavatories. We have worked with
0:19:58 > 0:20:07Mencap, to have a searchable app for people to find the nearest changing
0:20:07 > 0:20:10location.We would like to thank them for their work for better
0:20:10 > 0:20:15facilities across the country are for global campaign is approaching
0:20:15 > 0:20:20me. Their campaign is right about more suitable changing places in
0:20:20 > 0:20:24areas of leisure, including football stadiums, weird you could be changed
0:20:24 > 0:20:30with dignity and safety. Can the Minister outlined further support?
0:20:30 > 0:20:35Thank you Mr Speaker. I can tell my honourable friend that due to her
0:20:35 > 0:20:40and other organisations campaigning on this issue, since 2007, the
0:20:40 > 0:20:46number of changing places lavatories has increased from over 40 2/1000.
0:20:46 > 0:20:51This is not enough. I want to remind all public buildings and all
0:20:51 > 0:20:55buildings in which services are provided that they have a duty under
0:20:55 > 0:20:58the equalities act to make reasonable adjustments so that
0:20:58 > 0:21:05changing places can be provided.As cheered the disability all-party
0:21:05 > 0:21:09Committee I hear repeated distressing stories about disabled
0:21:09 > 0:21:14people being changed on toilet due to lack of provision. It is
0:21:14 > 0:21:22unacceptable and unacceptable and degrading in today's society will
0:21:22 > 0:21:28the Government talk about putting this on an equal footing?There is
0:21:28 > 0:21:34already a need for this under the equalities act. Building regulations
0:21:34 > 0:21:38are going under review and I would not wish to prejudge that. To
0:21:38 > 0:21:44highlight the extent of this problem, there train stations out of
0:21:44 > 0:21:49the 2500 that have changing places. Only 12 motorway service stations
0:21:49 > 0:21:53out of the nearly 100. Only 50 out of 500 shopping centres have them.
0:21:53 > 0:22:01That is simply not good enough.
0:22:05 > 0:22:12Over the last month we were both able to attend the event recognising
0:22:12 > 0:22:17the patchwork foundation's excellent work engaging underrepresented
0:22:17 > 0:22:20groups in politics as well as many other colleagues from across the
0:22:20 > 0:22:24House. I was also lucky enough to be able to join the UK youth Parliament
0:22:24 > 0:22:29day when it was heard in Parliament if you Fridays ago debating
0:22:29 > 0:22:34important issues on equalities like LG BT rates and the need to have a
0:22:34 > 0:22:38more diverse parliament over the coming years. Increasing diversity
0:22:38 > 0:22:45in Parliament is critical and this Government remains committed to also
0:22:45 > 0:22:49increasing equality in the workplace. It is good news that the
0:22:49 > 0:22:53new gender pay gap shows that the full-time gender pay gap is now the
0:22:53 > 0:22:58lowest it has ever been. This week marks the launch of our latest
0:22:58 > 0:23:01programme for returners in the public sector for those wishing to
0:23:01 > 0:23:07be joining the civil service and my own department is leading the way by
0:23:07 > 0:23:15offering retirement places in the Government's equality office.
0:23:15 > 0:23:20What steps the the Secretary of State planning on women being able
0:23:20 > 0:23:25to vote?He has announced a 5 millioned about fund. It will help
0:23:25 > 0:23:31us to fund the statute in Parliament Square, secondly, there will be a
0:23:31 > 0:23:35grass roots funding element which are are alerting grass roots
0:23:35 > 0:23:42communities around the country on to do their own local projects.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45Thirdly, the announcement of seven Centenary cities and towns in
0:23:45 > 0:23:50England who have a strong sufferage history will receive funding to
0:23:50 > 0:23:55really make sure as places were the push for women's votes happened
0:23:55 > 0:23:58strongest, they can play their role in really helping us remember such
0:23:58 > 0:24:04an important milestone. THE SPEAKER:Parliament itself is
0:24:04 > 0:24:09engaged with these matters. That will be taking the form of a huge
0:24:09 > 0:24:13exhibition in the course of 2018 which I'm sure all colleagues will
0:24:13 > 0:24:21wish to visit and to encourage others to visit #z.Is yesterday a
0:24:21 > 0:24:25budget proved that austerity is a failed economic project and women
0:24:25 > 0:24:31have paid the price. Since 2010, 86% of net savings to the Treasury have
0:24:31 > 0:24:35come from women. Last year, the Treasury refused to send a minister
0:24:35 > 0:24:39to the women and equalities select committee to answer questions on the
0:24:39 > 0:24:45impact of Government's budget plans and fiscal statements on women. The
0:24:45 > 0:24:50ininter sexuality of the cuts takes into account all the benefits to
0:24:50 > 0:24:54women, they are still ten or 12 times worse off. If the minister
0:24:54 > 0:25:00disagrees, does the minister think it is about time a comprehensive
0:25:00 > 0:25:04equality impact assessment is done by the Government and the Treasury's
0:25:04 > 0:25:08held to account on their policies regarding women and diverse
0:25:08 > 0:25:14policies?In the factory environment the opposition lives in, it is easy
0:25:14 > 0:25:17to ignore what respected comen#25i9ers like the IFS say about
0:25:17 > 0:25:24this analysis. They've stayed "what is possible falls a long way short
0:25:24 > 0:25:29of a full gender impact assessment "requests the reason they make that
0:25:29 > 0:25:34point, the analysis looks at tax and welfare on the budget but doesn't
0:25:34 > 0:25:38take into account the impact off national living wage, childcare
0:25:38 > 0:25:46policies. The work on the gender pay gap, legal changes on flexible
0:25:46 > 0:25:49working. It gives a very narrow picture of how much this Government
0:25:49 > 0:25:52is doing to support women. Of course, the other piece of this is
0:25:52 > 0:25:57it misses the fact there are now more women in work than ever before.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01If we're really interested in women's economic empowerment, surely
0:26:01 > 0:26:08that's the main statistic we should focus on?
0:26:08 > 0:26:17THE SPEAKER:Where is the fella? No doubt in more com! What a pity. Mr
0:26:17 > 0:26:24Cleverly, the honourable gentleman. Thank you. Does my Right Honourable
0:26:24 > 0:26:29Friend share my encouragement that over 100,000 people took part in the
0:26:29 > 0:26:36Government's LGBT survey. Can I ask what further steps she is making to
0:26:36 > 0:26:41ensure greater LGBT equality in British society?The survey received
0:26:41 > 0:26:45an unprecedented response making it one of the largest LGBT surveys in
0:26:45 > 0:26:52the world. We will analyse those results closely and set out further
0:26:52 > 0:26:56steps to promote LGBT equality next year. The Government is taking
0:26:56 > 0:27:02further action including running a large anti-homophobic, bi-phobic and
0:27:02 > 0:27:08transphobic bullying programme in our schools.Recent research showed
0:27:08 > 0:27:12it would take 100 years to close the gender pay gap at the current rate
0:27:12 > 0:27:16of change. A report by the women and equalities select committee
0:27:16 > 0:27:21suggested we will only achieve true economic equality if we make all
0:27:21 > 0:27:26jobs flexible by default and introduce non-transferable paternity
0:27:26 > 0:27:31leave. What steps will the Government taking?This is an
0:27:31 > 0:27:36important topic. Paying men and women unequally for the same work
0:27:36 > 0:27:46has been unlawful for 50 years. A spoke with Francis O'Grady for us to
0:27:46 > 0:27:50work collective to tackle this. In the Department for Education, we
0:27:50 > 0:27:55held a flexible working summit with the teaching profession last month.
0:27:55 > 0:28:00I agree improving flexible work something part of how we can make
0:28:00 > 0:28:04sure the women are better able to get back into the workplace. In
0:28:04 > 0:28:09relation to legal pay, it is a legal requirement. Gender pay gap
0:28:09 > 0:28:12transparency is how we can continue to shine a light on these range of
0:28:12 > 0:28:18issues.Many women's rights campaigners have raised concerns
0:28:18 > 0:28:23about women's safety in relation to the use of women's facilities
0:28:23 > 0:28:29ranging from toilets through to women's prisons where people use
0:28:29 > 0:28:31them on the basis of self-certification they are now
0:28:31 > 0:28:35women. What response would the Secretary of State give to those
0:28:35 > 0:28:41women's rights campaigners who are concerned about women's safety?The
0:28:41 > 0:28:43Equality Act 2010 allows organisations to provide single sex
0:28:43 > 0:28:48services. We've no intention of changing the safeguards women's
0:28:48 > 0:28:52single sex services already have in place to protect vulnerable women.
0:28:52 > 0:28:57The co in solateation on the reform the gender recognition act will be a
0:28:57 > 0:29:02wide and open consultation. We want to hear views from all stakeholders,
0:29:02 > 0:29:04including women's groups and refuges.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07THE SPEAKER:We're out of time. There is heavy pressure on business
0:29:07 > 0:29:12today. I I'm making one exception. The voice of Kettering must be
0:29:12 > 0:29:24heard.The noble Lord, is a leading disability rights campaigner and was
0:29:24 > 0:29:28a superb nominee for the post of disabilities commissioner. After his
0:29:28 > 0:29:33nomination was made known to the equalities and Human Rights
0:29:33 > 0:29:37Commission, the post was abolished. Has the Government equalities office
0:29:37 > 0:29:40informed the Prime Minister's office of this disgracement development and
0:29:40 > 0:29:48if so, when?Well the roles and responsibilities givens to board
0:29:48 > 0:29:52members are matters for the commission itself. The Government
0:29:52 > 0:29:58has no power to reinstate the EHRC's disability commissioner role.
0:29:58 > 0:30:03THE SPEAKER:Far be it from me to deny the chair of the women and
0:30:03 > 0:30:07equality select committee of the House the final question of this
0:30:07 > 0:30:14session? Mrs Mayor eya miller.Thank you. Parliament and the leaders of
0:30:14 > 0:30:17the House are tackling the difficult issue of sexual harassment in this
0:30:17 > 0:30:24place. That's to be applauded. 50% of women in the workplace suffer
0:30:24 > 0:30:28sexual harassment as well. What is the Government going to do to make
0:30:28 > 0:30:32sheer the very strong laws that are set out in the Equality Act and
0:30:32 > 0:30:37beyond are actually abided by, by businesses in this country? I think
0:30:37 > 0:30:41the debate we've been having in this place is part of how we raise these
0:30:41 > 0:30:46issues of sexual harassment in the workplace. We need to be very, very
0:30:46 > 0:30:50clear that is illegal, it is unacceptable and it needs to be
0:30:50 > 0:30:55Satch stamp theed out wherever we see it. There is legal protection.
0:30:55 > 0:31:00In addition, we need to understand at Ood fundamentally need to change.
0:31:00 > 0:31:05Finally, the DFE can play a clear role in making sure young people at
0:31:05 > 0:31:08school, whilst in education, get the kind of education they need to