§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that his Department has complied with article 63(b) of the 1975 world plan of action for the United Nations Decade for Women.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinYes. A sub-committee of my Department's General Whitley Council has been established to take forward those items in the centrally agreed programme of action on equal opportunities for women, which were recommended for action at the departmental level. We have, in addition, appointed equal opportunities officers to co-ordinate policy in this area generally.
§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to promote policies designed to challenge those traditional attitudes which Her Majesty's Government state in their response to the United Nations End of Decade for Women's questionnaire are detrimental to women's attainments in local government.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinWithin the framework of general anti-discriminatory legislation, it is for those involved in local government to combat such discriminatory attitudes and stereotyped assumptions which remain. The Equal Opportunities Commission has advised numerous local authorities on the adoption of equal opportunities' policies.