§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on the NHS of the proposed Directive on sex equality and discrimination.[127624]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department of Health is committed to providing equality of opportunity in all aspects of its work. All policy development must support the core principles of the NHS Plan, one of which states that the national health service of the 21st century must be responsive to the needs of different groups and individuals within society and challenge discrimination on the grounds of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability and sexuality.
While as yet there is no official published Directive text, once a draft Directive is put forward by the European Commission (EC) the United Kingdom Government will aim to work positively and constructively with the EC and other member states on extending the existing sex discrimination legislation to cover goods and services and to ensure that the final agreement fully reflects UK priorities and concerns.