§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made within his Department on equal opportunities matters. [21537]
§ Mr. SoamesA statement about progress on equal opportunities for my Department's civilian staff and Service personnel was published in the Ministry of Defence 1995 departmental report, Cm 2801, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he hopes to achieve in his Department over the next three months to push forward the declaration signed in October 1994 at the Vienna conference in preparation for the fourth UN conference on women; and if he will agree to incorporate a section on equal opportunities in his Department's annual report. [21539]
§ Mr. SoamesThe Government are committed to the principles set out in the regional platform for action agreed at the preparatory conference in Vienna for the fourth UN world conference on women. Where appropriate, my Department has taken these forward through a wide range of programmes and initiatives related to service and civilian employees, and will continue to do so. A section on progress made on equal opportunities matters in my Department is incorporated annually in the departmental report, a copy of which is placed in the Library of the House.
§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the gender assessment being prepared by his Department. [21538]
§ Mr. SoamesMy Department's policy for both civilian and service personnel, 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.
289WFor civilian personnel, similar principles apply in respect of people with disabilities. This scrutiny is part of a continuous and routine process, as part of policy advice to Ministers and is included in my Department's policy on equal opportunities.
§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Minister in his Department has responsibility for equal opportunities issues. [21536]
§ Mr. SoamesResponsibility for these issues is shared between myself and my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence.