§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Energy to what extent women now have employment rights equal to those of men in the (a) gas and (b) electricity industries; and how many (i) women and (ii) men are employed in these fields.
§ Mr. John MooreThe British Gas Corporation and the electricity supply industry subscribe fully to the principle of equal opportunity for all employees regardless of sex and this policy is endorsed in joint agreements with the trade unions.
The numbers of men and women employed in the industries at end of February 1983 were as follows:
BGC (CB) ESI (GB) Women 25,317 30,188 Men 76,344 129,106 Total 101,661 159,294
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Energy to what extent women now have employment rights equal to those of men in mining; and how many (a) women and (b) men are employed in this field.
§ Mr. John MooreThe employment of women in the mining industry is subject to the provisions of the Mines and Quarries Act 1954, as amended by section 21 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, which inter alia states that no female shall be employed in a job the duties of which ordinarily require the employee to spend a significant proportion of his time below ground at a mine that is being worked. Consequently, no females are employed by the National Coal Board in jobs requiring them to spend a significant proportion of their time underground.