HC Deb 25 March 2004 vol 419 c1056
23. Mr. Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD)

What steps the Government are taking to reduce pay differences between men and women. [163455]

The Deputy Minister for Women and Equality (Jacqui Smith)

Since 1997, the difference in median hourly pay has fallen from 16.2 percentage points to 12.9 percentage points. That reflects, in part, increases in womens opportunities in the labour market due to increased flexible working, greater maternity pay and leave, and the help that we, together with the EOC, have provided employees with to tackle unequal pay where it exists. Last week, we launched plans to streamline equal value tribunal procedures in another step to improve the way that the Equal Pay Act 1970 works in practice.

Mr. Carmichael

I thank the Minister for that answer. She may be aware that figures from the Office for National Statistics show that workers in part-time jobs are seven times more likely to be paid less than the minimum wage than workers in full-time jobs. As women form a higher proportion of the part-time work force, does she agree that dealing with that difference between part-time and full-time workers would do a lot to address the gender pay gap and that, in fact, a lot could be done by increasing awareness among women of their rights in relation to the minimum wage?

Jacqui Smith

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right about the national minimum wage, which has had the largest impact on low-paid women's pay since the Equal Pay Act 1970, and he is also right that we need to do everything that we can to ensure that those rights are made clear to women. Of course we also need to pursue our target to ensure that large companies carry out equal pay reviews, where the factors that cause pay differentials are often identified and action can then be taken. That is why, for example, we have again supported the Equal Opportunities Commission to produce guidance for companies and special guidance for small companies to carry out those equal pay reviews and to take the action that will help to ensure that people are fairly rewarded at work.