HL Deb 05 July 2001 vol 626 c58WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they accept that measures to promote equality of opportunity between men and women and to eliminate sex discrimination against women in political and public life must, to comply with the United Nations Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, be (in the words of Article 4.1 of that Convention) "temporary special measures aimed at accelerating de facto equality between men and women" and "in no way entail as a consequence the maintenance of inequality and separate standards". [HL112]

Baroness Morgan of Huyton

The Government intend that any measures introduced to promote equality of opportunty between men and women will be compliant with the United Kingdom's international obligations.