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Commission for Equality and Human Rights
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Role of the Ministers for Women |
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We develop policies relating to gender equality and ensure that work on equality across Government as a whole is co-ordinated.
In order to realise the benefits of diversity, Ministers are taking action to:
We aim to reduce and remove some of the barriers that currently face underrepresented groups — in particular, the needs of black and minority ethnic women.
We work with colleagues, both inside and outside Government, to bring about measurable improvements in the position of women and men, and to promote equality for all — which benefit society generally.
In workplaces, we are:
Reducing the pay gap. The pay gap has decreased from 30% in 1975 to 17% in 2004, but it is still far too high.
So the Government has introduced an equal pay questionnaire, and has funded the EOC to develop two equal pay review toolkits for small and large employers. We have undertaken pay reviews in all departments. The Government has produced two authoritative pieces of research on the causes of the pay gap and gender productivity. We have also set up a taskforce to look at how companies report on their biggest asset — people.
Breaking into the boardroom. Women are still very much a minority in the boardroom. In the FTSE 100 companies, just over one in 10 non-executive posts and one in 40 executive posts are held by women. Following the publication of the Higgs and Tyson reports on the benefits of diversity among non-executive directors, the Government has been working with business to address these issues.
In families, we are:
Balancing work and family life. This benefits not just individuals but also employers who report convincing improvements in recruitment, retention, morale and productivity.
In April 2003, the Government gave parents of young children the right to ask to work flexibly. This is on top of a number of other rights that have been introduced since this Government came to power — parental leave, time off for workers with dependants for family emergencies and the same rights for part timers as well as for full timers.
Ensuring affordable, accessible childcare. The Government wants to give all children the best possible start in life while supporting parents who work, study or train (about 70% of women work and nearly 80% of men).
In line with its National Childcare Strategy, the Government is on target to create places for two million children by 2006. So far, over one million children have benefited. For the first time ever, fathers are able to take paid paternity leave, adoptive parents can take paid adoption leave and arrangements for maternity leave and pay have been simplified. Maternity pay has also increased from just under £60 in 1997 to £100 this year.
Also in April 2003, the Government introduced the Child Tax Credit and the Working Tax Credit — the two biggest financial boosts for mothers since the introduction of Child Benefit. Nine out of 10 families with children are eligible, and millions of claims have been received.
In society, we are:
Recognising same-sex partnerships. Same-sex partners are currently denied rights available to heterosexual couples, and the Government is committed to introducing legislation for a civil partnership scheme as soon as Parliamentary time allows.
Strengthening equality. Last year, the Government consulted on the future role of our equality institutions and EU requirements to extend the current grounds of discrimination to religion and sexual orientation in December 2003 and age in 2006. It has now concluded that a single body represents the best option for realising its vision of a fairer, more inclusive and prosperous Britain.
Mainstreaming. The Unit is leading a gender equality steering group across Government to co-ordinate equality and to embrace best practice in promoting diversity in policies and services within our own department, Communities and Local Government.
Reducing the level of domestic violence. One woman is killed every three days at the hands of her partner or her ex partner. On average, one in every four women is abused during her lifetime. The Government introduced the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill in the House of Lords in December 2003 — the biggest overhaul of domestic violence legislation for 30 years. The WEU publish research into the economic and social costs of domestic violence in spring 2004 — the first national study of its kind.
In Europe and internationally, we are:
Presenting the UK’s position on women’s issues. The Unit actively participates in the current debates to ensure that a gender perspective is included in the decision-making process. It also takes part in the EU-wide Gender Mainstreaming group, and compiled the UK’s fifth report to the UN Commission for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women committee.
In general, we are:Working with businesses, trade unions and equality bodies. The Unit actively encourages a number of special interest groups to promote equality and diversity, because Government cannot achieve equality on its own. In particular we work with the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Women’s National Commission.
The Ministers for Women are:
Ruth Kelly MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Minister for Women
Meg Munn MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Deputy Minister for Women and Equality
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Updated May 2007 | © Crown copyright |
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