§ Jackie BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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. [86991]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Government are committed to making sure that policies are inclusive and take full account of the needs and experience of all those affected by them. Guidelines on Policy Appraisal for Equal Treatment, published in November 1998, commit policy makers to assess how proposals affect different groups of people.
Application of the guidance has been the responsibility of individual Departments. Within this Department we increasingly make use of consultation, research projects and disaggregated statistics to identify the impact of policy upon women. As an example, over 300 respondents commented on the family friendly employment rights proposals in the White Paper "Fairness at Work", including women's organisations and other groups with a strong interest in women's issues such as the Equal Opportunities Commission, Maternity Alliance, the Fawcett Society and the Women's National Commission. Responses were not made public but a list of respondents was placed in the Libraries of the House.
Informal consultation is continuing prior to publishing the Parental and Maternity Leave regulations. Maternity Alliance, Parents at Work, the Equal Opportunities Commission, and TUC Equal Opportunities representatives have contributed to this process. There will be further public consultation on the draft regulations.