§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress has been made within his Department on equal opportunities matters. [21507]
§ Mr. BurtThe Department is committed to equality of opportunity for its staff. Recent examples of progress include the continued improvement in the representation of women and ethnic minorities at management grades across the Department and the increased use of flexible working patterns. For example, 15 per cent. of staff now work part-time. Other initiatives to help staff balance home and work commitments include career breaks, alternative working patterns and special leave arrangements. The Department employs over 1,500 registered disabled staff and information gathered from240W staff surveys indicates that there are as many non-registered disabled staff. Harassment counselling networks are in place across the Department and equal opportunities awareness training is widely available.
A range of subsidised child care facilities are provided for staff, including 646 nursery places, 2,560 holiday playscheme places and child care referral services.
The Department was an early member of Opportunity 2000 and remains committed to the Cabinet Office programmes for action on women and race and the new programme for action on disability.
§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the gender assessment being prepared by his Department. [21508]
§ Mr. BurtThis Department's policy, in line with guidance issued in 1992 by the ministerial group on women's issues, is that policy proposals should ensure that unlawful or unjustifiable sex or race discrimination does not occur and that similar principles apply to other groups such as people with disabilities and older people. This scrutiny is part of a continuous and routine process, as part of policy advice to Ministers.
§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which Minister in his Department has responsibility for equal opportunities issues. [21506]