Gender Equality (Hansard, 7 January 2004)

HC Deb 07 January 2004 vol 416 c383W 383W

§ Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
To ask the Minister for Women (1) what plans she has to introduce a public sector duty to promote gender equality; [146251]
(2) what assessment has been made of the need for a public sector duty to promote gender equality. [146252]

§ Jacqui Smith
The Government are taking forward a significant legislative agenda on equality matters, and they have committed themselves to introduce a duty on public bodies to promote equality of opportunity for women and men generally when parliamentary time allows. In taking this forward, the Government will be considering the experience gained with the duty to promote race equality introduced in the Race Relations (Amendment) Act (2000).