§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what intentions his Department has to introduce measures on child care and employment rights to reflect the change in the number of women in the work force.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe Government have made clear their intention to enable women to fulfil their full potential in the world of work. In April 1993 we introduced the out-of-school child care grant, an initiative delivered by training and enterprise councils, and local enterprise companies in Scotland. A total of £45 million has been allocated and we hope to create 50,000 new child care places for the over-fives. The Trade Union Reform and 691W Employment Rights Act 1993 gives working women significant new maternity rights including a new right to 14 weeks maternity leave and comprehensive protection against dismissal on grounds of pregnancy, regardless of length of service or hours of work. The Act also includes a right to complain to an industrial tribunal against discriminatory terms in collective agreements, and a power for industrial tribunals to impose restrictions on reporting the identities of the parties in cases involving allegations of sexual harassment.