§ Jackie BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the women's organisations which have been consulted over proposed legislation by his Department during this session; and if their responses have been published. [86998]
§ Mr. MichaelThe women's organisations consulted over proposed legislation during this session are: the National Federation of Women's Institutes, Welsh Women's Aid, Merched y Wawr and the Wales Assembly for Women. Some consultation exercises are ongoing. To date one response from Welsh Women's Aid has been published.
Consultation has also taken place with the Equal Opportunities Commission. This offered further opportunity for consulting women's organisations through the EOC's support of the Wales Women's National Coalition which is made up of representatives of women's organisations including, in addition to those mentioned above, Chwarae Teg, Mewn Cymru, Wales Women's Euro Network, and the Wales TUC Women's Advisory Committee.
The Welsh Office is committed to ensuring that its policies are inclusive and take account of the views and experience of those who will be affected by them. The National Assembly for Wales, through its Equalities Committee, will play a significant role in future, in co-orporation with the Office of the Secretary of State.