§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment she has made of the extent of the gender pay gap among staff in his Department. [41008]
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§ Ms Rosie WintertonThis answer covers the Headquarters of the Lord Chancellor's Department, (including Associated Office), the Court Service and Public Guardianship Office.
The Department is currently undertaking an equality audit of pay and pay related systems in partnership with the trade unions. Once data have been analysed a formal action plan will be drawn up to address any unfair imbalances between groups created as a result of existing policy. Plans for on-going monitoring of the pay and appraisal systems will be formulated following the initial report and action plan. This Equal Pay audit will in addition cover the areas of ethnicity, disability and working hours.
The new pay and performance management arrangements for members of the Senior Civil Service will also be subject to equality monitoring.