§ 10. Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the priorities for the sex equality branch of his Department. (21625]
§ Miss WiddecombeThe sex equality branch is continuing to work successfully in furthering the Employment Department's objective to counter sex discrimination in the labour market and to promote women's interests in the workplace and beyond.
§ Mr. BayleyWhy does the Department's sex equality branch not have a written statement of objectives? Why has not it produced a single leaflet to tell women in Britain what the sex equality branch has been doing for them? Are the Government so embarrassed about how little they are doing for women that they have made the sex equality branch the best-kept secret in Whitehall?
§ Miss WiddecombeThe hon. Gentleman has obviously never heard of Opportunity 2000; he has never heard of New Horizons; he has never heard of Fair Play for Women; and he has never heard of a large number of initiatives, backed with conferences, road shows, leaflets and general information. May I suggest that the hon. Member does a bit of homework before he asks such silly questions?
§ Mr. GarnierIs my hon. Friend aware that, when she visited the Harborough constituency not so long ago, 557 women's unemployment was lower than it has been for the past 10 years? Does not that give the lie to the Opposition's policies of demanding positive discrimination? What people want are jobs, not special jobs.
§ Miss WiddecombeMy hon. and learned Friend is absolutely right. Our policies have produced a high percentage of women in work compared with the rest of Europe, a higher level of female participation compared with most of the rest of Europe, a lower level of female unemployment compared with most of the rest of Europe. We have done that through our flexible policies, and all that the Opposition have to offer is words, words, words; loss of jobs, loss of jobs, loss of jobs and a far worse world for women. Women in this country do not want to vote for that lot over there.