§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Minister for Women what action she proposes to close the pay gap between men and women in the south-east of England. [156277]
§ Jacqui SmithThe pay gap in the south-east is the second largest in Great Britain. This is in part because some men's earnings are particularly high there.
The pay gap problem is, however, a national one, and we are taking forward a number of measures to address it. These include the introduction of the national minimum wage, benefiting around one million women, and provisions in the Employment Act spreading good practice on equal pay.