§ Mr. Stephen TwiggTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the Government's response to the Equal Opportunities Commission's proposals for changes to the sex equality legislation. [91643]
§ Ms HodgeWe have today placed in the Library copies of the Government's response on some of the issues addressed by the EOC in their proposals for changes to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Equal Pay Acts. In reaching our conclusions, the Government have taken into account the Better Regulation Task Force's report on anti-discrimination legislation and the Commission for Racial Equality's proposals for changes to the Race Relations Act 1976, on which we are also responding today.
In considering the EOC' s proposals, our guiding principle has been to identify measures that will have the greatest practical impact on the lives of men and women. We will therefore: consult on changes in the way equal pay cases are dealt with to make them clearer and simpler; update the law to take account of developments in Europe on equal treatment; bring the functions of all public authorities within the scope of the Sex Discrimination Act; explore both legislative and non-legislative options to ensure public bodies promote equal opportunities between women and men; encourage the EOC to work with equality bodies and others to help employers and service providers meet their obligations under the current law by producing clear and accessible guidance and examples of good practice; and bring the EOC' s powers in line with the Disability Rights Commission. At this stage we do not consider that undertaking a major legislative overhaul, in the way the EOC suggests, will of itself achieve the practical changes that are needed.
The Government are taking concrete steps to tackle key issues that affect women and men's lives. For example, the National Childcare Strategy created over 65,000 new child care places last year, enabling men and women to choose to work or study. The National Minimum Wage is benefiting women in particular, as they make up the highest proportion of those on low pay. Measures under the Employment Relations Bill on maternity and parental leave will help people to balance their working and home lives.